BARCELONA – Lionel Messi produced a vintage second-half performance to help Barcelona to a 4-1 win over local rivals Espanyol yesterday which saw the champions cut the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid to three points.
Luis Suarez celebrated signing a new contract with Barca on Friday by firing the home side ahead in the 18th minute with the help of a brilliant pass from Andres Iniesta and the Uruguayan struck again in the 67th after a mazy run from Messi.
The Argentine maestro cut the Espanyol defence to ribbons again to allow Jordi Alba to score the third in the 68th before capping the victory with a goal of his own in the 89th, after David Lopez had pulled one back for the visiting side.
“When everyone is playing well it’s important for individual talents, like those Messi has, to flourish. He’s a sensational player,” said Iniesta.
“It was an intense derby, we played well and we are very happy to have won the last league game of the year. We feel very good at the moment and we finish the year in the league feeling very happy with the way we are playing.”
Barca are second on 34 points, three behind Real Madrid who have a game in hand due to their participation in the Club World Cup which they lifted after a 4-2 extra-time win over Kashima Antlers earlier on Sunday, while Sevilla are third on 33.
Espanyol have not beaten Barcelona since 2009 although they went into the game on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run in the league, conceding only once in their last six.
Their positive form counted for little, though, against a Barca side who have rediscovered their form after a slump in November.
