Barcelona 4-0 Deportivo de la Coruna: Messi nets comeback goal in rout

Barcelona geared up for their Champions League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday night with a comfortable win against Deportivo la Coruna at Camp Nou.

Rafinha truck twice, Luis Suarez once and Lionel Messi grabbed the fourth on his comeback from injury, while the Catalans also struck the woodwork on three occasions.

The only sour note was Paco Alcacer’s fruitless search for a first Barcelona goal. He replaced Suarez at half-time, hitting the post, seeing German Lux make a fine save and then firing a third chance wide when he should have scored.

Luis Enrique turned to a 3-4-3 with right-back Sergi Roberto out injured, and surprisingly Arda Turan was utilised as the right wing-back.

Along with Suarez’s second half rest, Andres Iniesta spent the whole game on the bench after playing twice for Spain as Luis Enrique thought ahead to the clash with Pep Guardiola’s team in Europe.

Messi was brought on with 35 minutes to go to get his match rhythm back, but it seemed like he had never been away, taking just three minutes to find the net. 

That was Barcelona’s fourth, in a game they had put to bed a long time ago. 

Rafinha opened the scoring after winning the ball back himself, receiving it back from Suarez and then ramming past German Lux.

He then notched the second when Gerard Pique’s header was parried by the stopper.

Suarez made it three before the break after Neymar’s clever pass, taking a sublime first touch and then firing home. 

He crashed a drive against the upright after that as Barcelona pushed for more, which eventually came through Messi after another top Neymar through-ball.

Alcacer missed several chances as the game played out, though surely the goals will come if he keeps taking up the same positions.