Lionel Messi marked his return to the Barcelona side with a glorious double in a 3-0 gutting of a struggling Sevilla at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
The little Argentina forward missed Sunday’s 4-1 win at Granada due to suspension, but wasted little time in returning to the firing line, helping Luis Enrique’s side move one point clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga before their fierce rivals visited Leganes later on Wednesday evening.
Barca never looked back after Luis Suarez scored with a classic overhead kick on 24 minutes from Messi’s cross before Suarez returned the favour to supply Messi for the second goal four minutes later after a fine run by Neymar.
As the rain tumbled down on the Camp Nou, fourth-placed Sevilla were in danger of capsizing as Messi picked a loose ball out of the air before thumping a volley low and hard into the visiting net on 32 minutes.
It was vintage Barcelona after the eight-minute goal burst with Andres Iniesta’s touch and vision causing all sorts of problems as Barca somehow only declared on a 3-0 lead at half-time.
Depending on Madrid’s result at Leganes, Barca will hope they can go top on Sunday night when they visit Malaga only hours after Real Madrid host city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu.
In a week when 35-year-old tennis miracle worker Roger Federer is being lauded for his powers of recovery, a special mention would go to the energy and class of 32-year-old Andres Iniesta at the heart of the home midfield in his 700th appearance for the Catalan side.
A lot of critics questioned his legs after the 4-0 pummelling by PSG in the Champions League last 16 last month, but he is obviously back to his majestic best with his ability to get about the pitch not in doubt either. If he can avoid injury between now and the end of the season, great things can happen for this Barca side.
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