Barcelona player ratings: Messi magic merits top marks
The Argentine was outrageous in the second half, creating two goals and scoring one
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (6): Seems to be taking less risks on the ball in recent weeks. Little he could do about the Espanyol goal -- their first on target.
Sergi Roberto (8): Up and down the right flank all night, with his key contribution coming in stoppage time. Won the ball back and sent Messi scuttling down the right, with the move ending in Barça's fourth goal.
Gerard Pique (7): Won the aerial battle with Felipe Caicedo and produced another polished performance. One of Barça's players of the season.
Javier Mascherano (7): Chosen ahead of Samuel Umtiti and played well. His tackle won the ball back as Barça turned an Espanyol attack into the game’s opening goal in the first half. Ended the game back in a familiar midfield role.
Jordi Alba (9): Two assists last week and a goal here against Espanyol. On top of that, he’s been defending well, too. Perhaps the competition from Lucas Digne has helped him kick on.
Sergio Busquets (7): Poor form looks to be behind him even if he didn’t display the form he showed in the Clasico draw with Real Madrid earlier this month. Read the game well and kept it simple in possession. His quick exchanges with Iniesta are particularly good.
Andres Iniesta (9): Three wins in a row for Barcelona has coincided with this man’s return to the team. Once again brilliant in the middle of the pitch and his long pass for Luis Suarez’s first half goal was spectacular.
Denis Suarez (6): The surprise pick to start ahead of Andre Gomes and Ivan Rakitic, with the former not even named in the match day squad after a recent run of starts. Didn’t make his mark on the game and was replaced by Rafinha just after the hour.
Lionel Messi (10): Missed an early chance at the far post after a good move involving Suarez and Neymar. With Iniesta, orchestrated a lot of Barça’s play and regularly looked for that diagonal pass he likes so much out to the left. That was the first half; what came next was incredible. Words don’t do justice to his footwork in the build up to Barça’s second and third goals. He beat four men before seeing his shot saved by substitute goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez, with Suarez tapping in the rebound, before beating two more men to set up Alba. Eventually got his own goal, too, playing a one-two with Suarez and rolling through Roberto's legs.
Luis Suarez (9): Much better than in recent weeks and his first touch for his goal in the first half was sublime. Did well to hold off Diego Reyes, too, and the finish was good. Scored his second by being alert in the box to pounce on a rebound and his lobbed pass created Messi's goal. With 12 goals each, him and Messi are the league's top scorers.
Neymar (7): Ninth game without a goal, during which time he’s picked up six yellow cards. He’s still played well in that time and has created a lot, but his lack of success in front of goal will be a concern for him and his manager.
Substitutes:
Rafinha (6): Came on for the last half an hour for Denis Suarez.
Samuel Umtiti (N/A): Replaced Busquets late on.
