Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Rafinha, Sergi Roberto (Iniesta 67’), Busquets (Mascherano 62’), Rakitic; Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar (Denis Suárez 70‘). 3-4-3.
Celta: Sergio Alvarez; Roncaglia, Cabral, Sergi Gómez, Jonny; Radoja, Daniel Wass (Marcelo Díaz 68‘); Hugo Mallo, Iago Aspas, Bongonda (Pione Sisto 51‘); Guidetti (Jozabed 62’). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 24. Messi. Picked up ball in midfield and ran on to shoot past Alvarez.
2-0. 40. Neymar. Ran on to Messi pass and lifted shot over head of keeper.
3-0. 57. Rakitic. Steered shot under keeper after Rafinha played ball across.
4-0. 61. Umtiti. Got on the end of Messi cross to poke shot past keeper.
5-0. 64. Messi. Collected ball on right wing and ran on shoot inside near post.
Yellow cards: Busquets 20’, Cabral 36’, Radoja 38’, Sergi Gómez 49’.
Barcelona ended the day at the top of the table, still a point ahead of Real Madrid (albeit having played a game more) after a 5-0 victory over Celta on Saturday night. Luis Suárez and Messi both hit the post before Messi scored a “house-special”, picking the ball up in midfield on running on to beat Sergio Alvarez midway through the first half. With five minutes to go to the break Neymar made it two with a clever lob over the keeper after Messi put him through, and soon after the restart Sergi Roberto got free on goal only to over-run the ball and allow the keeper to clear. Luis Enrique’s side added three more though in a seven minute period midway through the second half, Rakitic (from an offside position), Umtiti and Messi the scorers, and Ter Stegen was not troubled until Daniel Wass and Iago Aspas fired shots just wide later on. Barça now go in to their midweek Champions League tie against Paris Saint Germain with a virtually impossible task of overturning a four goal deficit, but knowing that the scorelines of their two home games this week would be enough to turn things around.