BARCELONA — Lionel Messi was in inspired form as champion Barcelona hammered Celta Vigo 5-0 Saturday, recording a fourth straight league victory which keeps it top of La Liga after Real Madrid had put the pressure on the Catalans with a 4-1 win at Eibar.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute after a stunning solo run and then laid on a pass for Neymar to double the lead in the 40th with an irresistible chip.
Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti added to the scoring in the second half, the latter netting for the first time for the club, as Barca produced one of their best performances of the season in its first game since Luis Enrique revealed he would not be continuing as coach after the summer.
Messi then capped his virtuoso display with a darting run forward into the box past two defenders and a classy low finish, scoring an eighth goal in six league games and rounding off a rampant Barca display reminiscent of its 6-1 thrashing of Celta last year.
Barca tops the La Liga standings on 60 points, one ahead of Real, while third-placed Sevilla, on 55, visits Alaves Monday.
Reds punish Wenger’s gamble
Liverpool punished Arsene Wenger’s selection gamble with a crucial 3-1 win over spluttering Arsenal Saturday.
Wenger sprang a major surprise by leaving Alexis Sanchez on the bench and the Chile forward was badly missed as Arsenal was blown away in the first half at Anfield.
With Mesut Ozil also absent, due to illness, Arsenal was ill-equipped to match Jurgen Klopp’s fired-up side, which took the lead in the ninth minute when Roberto Firmino met Sadio Mane’s cross with a cool finish.
There was worse to come for Wenger in the 40th minute as Firmino teed up the unmarked Mane and the Senegal winger drilled his shot past Petr Cech.
Wenger sent on Sanchez at half-time and inevitably he made an impact, sending an astute pass through to Danny Welbeck, whose deft chip reduced the deficit in the 57th minute.
But Georginio Wijnaldum finished a lethal Liverpool counter attack in the 90th minute to condemn Arsenal to a third defeat in its last four league matches.
Liverpool’s second win in its last eight league games lifted it above Arsenal and Manchester City into third place. Wenger’s fifth-placed side is now two points outside the top four.
Cavani penalty lifts PSG
Paris Saint-Germain needed a late penalty from top scorer Edinson Cavani to scrape home against struggling Nancy 1-0 in the French league Saturday.
PSG moved level with leader Monaco, which has a vastly better goal difference and can restore its three-point lead against Nantes Sunday.
Meanwhile, third-place Nice moved level on points with PSG and Monaco after winning 1-0 away to Dijon.
In other matches it was: Nice 1, Dijon 0; Saint-Etienne 0, Bastia 0; Rennes 1, Metz 1; Montpellier 1, Guingamp 1; Angers 3, Caen 1. — Agencies
