Lionel Messi grabbed a hat-trick as Barcelona responded emphatically to questions about their motivation by demolishing CA Osasuna 8-0 in a staggering display of attacking soccer at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Messi scored his first goal after just five minutes as the Spanish and European champions rebounded from two successive draws to deliver the perfect response to critics who claimed they had become complacent with success.
Cesc Fabregas, playing in attack with Pedro Rodriguez rested, soon scored their second, before David Villa rounded the goalkeeper just after the half-hour mark and slotted home. An own-goal from Ruben Gonzalez added to Osasuna’s misery and Messi was on target again before the break.
Photo: Reuters
There was no drop in pace this time from Barca as in their games against Real Sociedad and AC Milan, and they continued to punish Osasuna. Xavi lobbed the goalkeeper before Villa and Messi both struck again to wrap up the scoring.
It was a warning to Real Madrid that Barca will not let go of their league title without a fight.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola denied there was ever a problem inside the dressing room and that he was never worried by the criticism.
“I wasn’t angry, people said I was angry, but it wasn’t the case. Obviously there is a part of the media which wants Barcelona to do badly and likewise there is a section which wants Real Madrid to do so,” he said. “I am not angry because my players haven’t given me a reason to be. I defend my players and my job is to convince them that they can win every game. If one day I think my players haven’t worked hard enough I will say it.”
A Frederic Kanoute goal after halftime gave Sevilla a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in Saturday’s late game.
The Andalusian side dominated, but found it difficult to break down a determined Sociedad. Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas both went close in the first half, but it wasn’t until the 53rd minute they finally made the breakthrough, with Kanoute firing in a knock down from Negredo.
A poacher’s goal from in-form Roberto Soldado gave Valencia a 1-0 win over Sporting de Gijon to maintain their 100 percent start to the season.
Sporting, who are still to pick up a point, started strongly with plenty of possession, but it was Valencia who took the lead through Soldado, who has now scored five of Valencia’s six goals so far this season. Sloppy defending from the home defense gave Jonas Goncalves plenty of time to shoot, but while goalkeeper Juan Pablo saved well, Soldado pounced on the rebound.
Sporting showed spirit, but it was Valencia who looked more dangerous in front of goal. Soldado could have had a second after the break and substitute Aritz Aduriz also had a shot blocked well by the goalkeeper.
“The game showed the personality of the team and it was a group performance. This was a difficult game against a side which is battling to pick up points, so we can congratulate ourselves for the way we played and worked hard,” Valencia coach Unai Emery said.
A deflected Martin Demichelis header, which came off Pablo Caceres, gave Malaga a deserved 1-0 victory over RCD Mallorca, while Granada picked up their first points of the season with Ikechuwku Uche scoring in a 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
Five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Saturday tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced. “No excuses for a poor performance,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat. “It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court,” he said. “But congratulations to my opponent — just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me.” Djokovic is just the latest in Van de Zandschulp’s string of superstar victims. He
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