Barca cruised to victory over Valladolid at the Camp Nou despite the away side's bravery. Lionel Messi ripped them apart with two goals and two assists and Sergio's men could do little to stop them and it could have easily been much more.

The home side took the lead inside two minutes after Lenglet hit a thunderbolt from Messi's ball into the box. The strike took a deflection off Barba and then hit the crossbar before going into the Valladolid goal. The opening 15- 20 minutes were frenetic and even though Barca were much better, Waldo hit a shot wide of the far stick as the away side tried to respond to Barca's constant attacks.

Then after 15 minutes, Valladolid got a surprise leveller. Ter Stegen failed to catch Michel's free-kick and the ball hit Kiko Olivas on the knee before finding its way into the net. The German shot stopper made a mess of what should have been a simple save. There was then a flashpoint after Ansu Fati was accused of trying to dive to win a penalty, but normal service quickly resumed.

Arturo Vidal was unable to direct his header from Frenkie de Jong's pass into the goal and then three minutes later, in the 29th minute, the Chilean made it 2-1. Vidal gave the ball to Messi and the Argentine sent a gorgeous scoop pass towards goal which Vidal voleyed past Masip. It was a goal of the highest quality and things would only get worse for Valladolid. Semedo, then hit one over the crossbar before Messi made it 3-1 after 34.

He hit a sensational free-kick over the four man wall and right into the corner. The wall jumped and the keeper, who could not keep it out, was well positioned, but the strike was just too good. It was his 50th career goal from a free-kick, his 44th for Barca. Messi then had another go just before half-time, but it was not as well directed and Masip saved easily.

In the second half, it did not get any easier for Valladolid. Masip had to make a superb save to deny Ansu Fati nine minutes in after great play by Messi in the build up, Lenglet then headed wide the corner and it was only a question of how many rather than if Barca would win. Valladolid struggled to threaten bar a few mini attacks and the Barca exhibition continued in the second period.

Luis Suarez had a goal disallowed 20 minutes from time after he was slightly offside from Jordi Alba's pass, but five minutes later, Messi made it 4-1 when Rakitic played him a lovely ball and the Argentine controlled with his thigh before firing past Masip who had no chance of keeping it out. Less than two minutes later, the Valladolid goalie picked the ball out of his net again. Suarez got the ball in the centre circle, Messi was then given the ball and he ran 10-15 yards before playing a pinpoint pass for the Uruguayan to knock into the goal.

The tempo of the game slowed down after that, but Barca had a few chances to make it six. Rakitic hit a weak shot at Matip while Vidal was a whisker away from heading Suarez's cross to the far post and then Messi struck his shot wide from near the penalty spot with almost the last kick of the game. Valladolid could only muster a Hervia's free-kick which went miles wide of the goal two minutes from time. It was an absolute trouncing.

Barca are now top of the table after this thumping win after temporarily losing their place at the top for a few days to Granada. For Valladolid, who managed to draw at Real Madrid earlier in the season, they stay 9th and should not be disheartened as very few sides would have been able to cope with a Barca in that mood.

Kiko Olivas

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