How Barcelona put eight goals past Huesca
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both scored twice to help Barcelona overcome a surprise early deficit and give Huesca a harsh reality check in an 8-2 thumping on Sunday.
On their first LaLiga trip to Camp Nou, the newly promoted minnows briefly continued what has been a dream start to the season by sensationally opening the scoring through Juan Camilo Hernandez.
But it proved little more than fleeting joy as Messi, Suarez and a Jorge Pulido own goal swiftly erased the early concern.
Alex Gallar did give Huesca a second reason to celebrate late in the first half before the gulf in class become evident over a one-sided second period.
Messi and Suarez completed their braces at either end of the half and Ousmane Dembele, Ivan Rakitic and Jordi Alba all joined in the fun as the hosts comprehensively maintained their perfect start to the campaign.
37 – Lionel Messi has scored against 37 of the 40 teams he has faced in his La Liga career (386 goals), the most ever of any player in the competition. Collector. pic.twitter.com/x3PhT1aGzz
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 2, 2018
Barca’s polished second half could not have contrasted more greatly with their sluggish start to the match as they were breached for the first time this term inside three minutes, Hernandez diverting in Samuele Longo’s downward header.
That only awakened the champions as they hastily overturned the deficit, Messi driving a right-footed finish into the bottom far corner before Pulido turned Alba’s cutback into his own net eight minutes later.
Left-back Alba then squared for Suarez to double the advantage in the 39th minute but there was still time for Huesca to snatch a second before the break, Gallar punishing sleepy marking with a smart first-time finish.
Barca were never unnerved and ended all doubt over the result with two more in fewer than five second-half minutes as Dembele buried his second of the season and Rakitic rifled in a splendid half-volley.
Messi waltzed through to make it a rout just beyond the hour and next turned provider for the impressive Alba in the 81st minute, before Suarez added the final gloss in stoppage time by winning and converting his own penalty.
What does it mean: Front three firing
Held to a one-goal victory at Valladolid last time out and having seen Real Madrid score four for the second match in succession on Saturday, Barca picked the right time to issue a reminder of their attacking muscle.
Star men Messi, Suarez and Dembele crucially look to be functioning on the same wavelength and, with the supply lines of Alba and Coutinho in full working order, there should be no concerns over the potency of last season’s top scorers.
Pat on the back: Alba makes Spain statement
Ernesto Valverde urged Alba to keep calm following his surprise omission from the latest Spain squad and the 29-year-old looks to have heeded his coach’s advice.
The marauding left-sided defender was instrumental to the first-half turnaround, teeing up his side’s first and third goals before deservedly etching his own name on the scoresheet late in proceedings.
9 – Jordi Alba has made nine assists in La Liga since last season, more than any other defender. Jet. pic.twitter.com/Kgj2aHB7Kw
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 2, 2018
Boot up the backside: Luisinho exposed
While Alba was influential for all the right reasons, the same cannot be said of fellow left-back Luisinho, who notably struggled under relentless examination.
The Brazilian allowed Messi to turn him far too easily for the opener and further cost his side by keeping Alba onside, albeit marginally, in the lead-up to Barca’s third, which effectively any ended hope Huesca had of avoiding the subsequent landslide.
What’s next?
Barca’s first assignment after the international break is a trip to Real Sociedad, while Huesca will look to rebound at home to Rayo Vallecano.
