Barcelona return to the La Liga summit with 5-1 win over Real Valladolid

Lionel Messi was at his sensational best as Barcelona stormed back to the top of La Liga, with a 5-1 win at home to Real Valladolid.

The Catalan's skipper has endured an injury disrupted start to the 2019-20 season, but he netted twice, and assisted two goals, as he took Sergio Gonzalez's side to pieces at the Camp Nou.

French defender Clement Lenglet gave La Blaugrana the lead inside the the opening two minutes, as he expertly slammed home from 15 yards, as Real Valladolid twice failed to clear Messi's cross into the box. 

The visitors did look to respond quickly, as defender Kiko bundled home an equaliser on the quarter of an hour mark, as Marc Ter Stegen parried captain Michel's free kick.

However, with Messi on red hot form, the hosts went through the gears before the break, as Arturo Vidal and Messi made it 3-1 before half time.

Firstly Messi found Vidal just inside the box with a spectacular clipped ball on 30 minutes, with the Chilean international keeping his calm to hook past Joel Masip.

Messi netted the third goal of the night five minutes later, and he curled home a trademark free kick from 25 yards.

Ernesto Valverde's side looked to make the game save in the early stages of the second half, with Masip denying Luis Suarez and teenage star Ansu Fati.

Before two goals in quick succession, with 15 minutes to go, sealed all three points for the defending champions.

Messi scored his second, as he latched onto substitute Ivan Rakitic's through ball into the box, before he laid on the assist for Suarez a minute later, as the Uruguayan got the goal his performance deserved, with a razor sharp ball from Messi.

Tags Arturo Vidal Clement Lenglet Lionel Messi Luis Suarez
La Liga - Club News