Messi Masterclass

Wednesday, 25 January 2012 10:54

Written by Editor

Malaga 1 - 4 Barcelona

After last week’s debacle in Gijon, Malaga welcomed Barcelona in the hope of producing a better performance against the best team in the world.

Malaga started ultra defensive but should have gone ahead early on. Isco tested Valdes from the edge of the box and from the resulting corner saved again from Isco's header and then smothered the rebound.  The breakthrough for the visitors came on 31 minutes with Adriano's cross well met by Messi to head into the bottom corner.

After the break Barcelona stepped it up a notch.  And on 48 minutes  Alexis Sanchez scored after some poor defending by Malaga. Three minutes later  Messi  went on one of his waltzing trademark runs, ghosting past Malaga's defense to slot the ball home. Messi then hit the bar from 25 yards out but he was not to be denied his fifth hat trick of the season and on 81 minutes squeezing past Demechelis he slotted the ball home into the far corner.  With four minutes to go substitute Recio's shot was parried out to Rondon who finished well to give Malaga a consolation goal.  Rondon and Seba then went on to have headers flash just wide but in the end Malaga were well and truly beaten.

A win next week at home to Sevilla on Sunday at 9.30pm is a must.

Report by Scott Forbes