Riqui Puig can be Messi's new partner in crime

Barcelona's youngsters stepped up during their 5-0 thrashing of Alaves on the final day of the LaLiga Santander season.

Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati both shone at Mendizorroza to ease the pressure on Quique Setien.

Riqui Puig was the director of the orchestra for the visitors, especially in a first half where he hit the crossbar and assisted Lionel Messi.

The 20-year-old also set up Nelson Semedo after the break as he laid down a strong claim to continue in the starting line-up in the future.

Ansu Fati provides something different for Barcelona.

The Catalans don't have someone with his turn of pace in the current squad and it would be a brave move to leave him out against Napoli.

Messi bowed out of LaLiga Santander this season with a brace to cement his place at the top of the scoring charts.

His two goals see him move on to 25 for the campaign, with Karim Benzema needing five goals against Leganes to prevent him from winning his seventh Pichichi Trophy.

Clement Lenglet was forced off with injury at the start of the second half, adding to Setien's defensive problems.

If the Frenchman is injured for the Champions League in August, the Blaugrana boss has an unfit Samuel Umtiti and an inexperienced Ronald Araujo to pick from when partnering Gerard Pique.

Arturo Vidal was all over the pitch for Barcelona as they tried to plug gaps in the team.

After being used as an attacking midfielder in the first half, he ended the game in the centre of defence to accommodate for the injured Lenglet's absence.