La Liga
Result: Barcelona 5-1 Espanyol
Date: 7 December 2014
Venue: Camp Nou
Lionel Messi rifled home three goals as Barcelona came back from a goal down to stomp Espanyol 5-1 in their La Liga clash.
The Periquitos were first to open the scoring as Sergio Garcia made it 1-0 in the 13th minute. Sergio Busquets lost possession to Caicedo who played it for Garcia to finish after beating Gerard Pique.
The Catalans were back on level terms at the stroke of half-time as Messi opened his account. Xavi held up the ball on the edge of the area before teeing it up for Messi who took a touch past a defender before finding the bottom corner of the goal with his strike.
Five minutes into the second half Barcelona were in the lead for the first time. Neymar took a couple of defenders out of the game with his stepovers before sending it off to Luis Suarez. He made his way down the line and squared it for Messi who beat Fuentes before smashing home with his right foot.
The hosts took complete control of the encounter in the 53rd minute as they stretched their lead to two goals. Rakitic bent a corner kick into the area where Pique rose highest to head home.
In the 77th minute Barcelona were running away with it as they netted their fourth. Jordi Alba picked out Pedro with a superb diagonal pass and the substitute took a touch before moving into the box and striking into the bottom corner of the goal.
Messi completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute to make it 5-1. The Argentine left his marker for dead in midfield, played a slick one-two with Pedro and finished with composure to cap off the dominant win.
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