Barcelona vs Celta Vigo. Spanish La Liga.
Camp NouAttendance72,580.
Sunday 14 February 2016 22:21, UK
Luis Suarez hit a hat-trick as Barcelona turned on the style to beat Celta Vigo 6-1 at the Nou Camp.
The Catalans took the lead in the 28th minute as Lionel Messi curled in a brilliant free-kick before John Guidetti equalised from the penalty spot six minutes before the break.
Suarez gave Barca the lead just before the hour, finishing first time after Messi's scooped pass, and he poked home his second with 15 minutes remaining following some lovely footwork from Neymar.
He completed his hat-trick after Messi had been brought down in the box. The Argentine passed up the chance to score his 300th La Liga goal, nudging the penalty a couple of yards forward and to his right allowing Suarez to run in and slot past a bewildered Sergio Alvarez in the Celta Vigo net.
The former Liverpool striker then turned provider, first setting up Ivan Rakitic and then Neymar for the fifth and sixth Barca goals.
Luis Enrique's side struggled to get going in the early stages but could have gone in front after 15 minutes when Andres Iniesta won the ball on the left wing, advanced to the edge of the area and played a remarkable pass through to Neymar who was denied by Alvarez.
Celta Vigo created the next opening as Carles Planas got forward from left-back and forced a good save from Claudio Bravo after combining well with Daniel Wass.
However, three minutes later the hosts took the lead. Planas brought down Suarez 25 yards out, slightly to the right of centre, and Messi stepped up to curl the ball beyond Alvarez into the top corner.
The visitors were undeterred though and got themselves level in the 39th minute. Guidetti dispossessed Jordi Alba inside the Barcelona penalty area and was brought down as the full-back tried to atone for his initial error.
The former Manchester City striker took the spot kick himself and found the net, despite Bravo diving the right way and getting his fingertips to the ball.
Barcelona came out with added intensity in the second half and Suarez had already struck the post before he fired them ahead just short of the hour mark.
The Uruguayan held the ball up before laying it off to Messi and continuing his run into the box. The Barcelona No 10 had no trouble is finding his team-mate, scooping a delightful pass perfectly over the backline for Suarez to run onto and side-foot first time into the far top corner.
Celta Vigo threatened to hit back though and Guidetti fired over before Wass twice came close, first hitting a shot inches over the bar and then shooting too close to Bravo when well placed inside the box.
They were made to pay for those missed opportunities soon after as Barcelona found top gear and hit four unanswered goals in the final 15 minutes.
First, Messi played in Neymar who skipped past the keeper and just got his shot away before the ball ran out of play. It took a deflection off the defender and may still have crept in but Suarez made sure, prodding it home from on the goal line.
That was the cue for party tricks to come out with Neymar, in particular, showing off his full repertoire of flicks and tricks.
However, it was Messi and Suarez who stole the show after the former was brought down inside the area.
Messi stepped up to take the penalty but literally passed up the chance to get his second of the game, choosing to tee up Suarez to run in and complete his hat-trick in memorable fashion.
Just a couple of minutes later Suarez was involved again, picking out the run of Rakitic who calmly lobbed the bouncing ball over the onrushing Alvarez and into the bottom corner.
There was still time for Suarez to grab another assist, driving the ball into the path of Neymar. The Brazilian keeping his composure to dink the ball left-footed past the helpless keeper and into the far corner.
The result takes Barcelona three points clear at the top of La Liga with a game in hand.
