Result: Barcelona 5-1 Real Valladolid
Date: 29 October 2019
Venue: Camp Nou
Lionel Messi stole the show on Tuesday evening as LaLiga champions FC Barcelona romped to a 5-1 victory over Real Valladolid at the Camp Nou.
Ernesto Valverde made two changes from their UEFA Champions League win over Slavia Prague, with Ansu Fati and Arturo Vidal replacing Antoine Griezmann and Arthur in the line-up.
Blaugrana grabbed the lead as early as the second minute oafter Clement Lenglet pounced on a rebound inside the box to rifle home off underside of the crossbar.
Valladolid levelled matters in the 15th minute through Kiko Olivas who slotted home from close range after goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen parried a cross inside the box into the attacker's path.
The Catalan giants restored their lead in the 29th minute after Vidal latched onto a delightful dink from Messi before lobbing goalkeeper Jordi Masip.
Messi got on the score-sheet five minutes later with a wonderful free-kick from the edge of the box that beat Masip towards the near side of the wall
The hosts were in control of the match coming from the break and they increased their attacking intensity after Ivan Rakitic and Griezmann were introduced just after the hour-mark, with Frenkie de Jong and Fati making way.
Luis Suarez thought he had made bagged Barca's fourth with 20 minutes remaining after he tapped in a cross from Jordi Alba at the far post but the goal was disallowed for offside, but Messi eventually got the fourth goal for Barca with a cracking strike from the left side of the box after a through ball from Rakitic to complete his brace.
Suarez finally got on the scoresheet for the home side with 13 minutes remaining, this time beating the offside trap to strike a low shot past Masip after through ball from Messi.
Despite the late attempts from Suarez and Messi, 5-1 was how the encounter ended as the Catalan giants moved to the top of the LaLiga standings.
