Barca 5-1 Valladolid: Messi's 2 goals & 2 assists hand Catalans La Liga top spot

Barcelona went top of LaLiga after crushing Real Valladolid 5-1 on Tuesday, with Messi having a hand in four of the goals.

Match Report

Messi was Barcelona's inspiration with two goals and a pair of assists as the Blaugrana demolished Real Valladolid 5-1 at Camp Nou to go top of LaLiga.

The postponement of El Clasico – which was initially scheduled for October 26 – due to Catalan political tension allowed promoted Granada to become the unlikely leaders, but Barca restored normal service with a crushing victory, led by Messi.

Although Clement Lenglet's serendipitous opener was cancelled out by an even more fortuitous Kiko Olivas equaliser, Messi was able to drag Barca into a commanding lead, setting up Arturo Vidal and then netting a stunning free-kick.

Valverde's men eased off initially in the second half, but Messi remained in the zone, slamming home Barca's fourth before then setting up Luis Suarez to round off a brilliant individual display from the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

La Liga Standings

Match Events

2' GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Valladolid (Lenglet)

De Jong skips away down the left and earns Barca a corner. It's taken short and when Messi eventually clips it in Valladolid fail to clear. A ricochet sits up for Lenglet and he slams the ball in off the underside of the bar!

15' GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Valladolid (Olivas)

Ter Stegen sees it late through the crowd. He reacts to get an arm to it but can only direct it straight to Olivas, who prods home from close range.

29' GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Valladolid (Vidal)

The Chilean makes another good run in behind the defence from midfield, and this time Messi finds him with an inch-perfect pass over the top from the right of centre.

34' GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Valladolid (Messi)

Barca win a free-kick 25 or so yards out, to the right of centre and you just know where it's going. Left foot, lovely curl, top-right postage stamp.

55' So close from Fati!

Busquets tackles Fernandez on the halfway line and the ball breaks for De Jong, who plays a good ball forward for Messi. He delays before knocking it left to Fati at the edge of the area. He opens up his body to shoot right-footed, but it deflects into the legs of Masip.

75' GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Valladolid (Messi)

Rakitic finds Messi with a good ball over the line of defence and Messi, in behind down the left, controls it with his thigh before hammering a left-footed half-volley across goal into the bottom-right corner.

77' GOAL! Barcelona 5-1 Valladolid (Suarez)

Suarez gets in on the act! Messi plays him in with another excellent pass, this time down the right after receiving the ball from Suarez in midfield. 

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