Messi stars as Barcelona demolish Leganes in La Liga

Lionel Messi scored a brace, while Luis Suarez and Neymar also got on the score-sheet, as Barcelona cruised past newly promoted side Leganes 5-1 to climb to the top of the table.

Barcelona suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Alaves last week in the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. But the returning Argentinian made sure that a repeat of that does not happen, as he bagged two goals and an assist to help his side thrash Leganes 5-1.

Messi opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a tap in after some good work by Luis Suarez. Suarez then got on to the score-sheet in the 31st minute as Messi turned provider this time. Neymar then made it 3-0 on the stroke of half time, with Suarez again providing the assist.

Barcelona went into the break comfortably ahead. They did not always look as comfortable as the scoreline suggested however. Leganes created some good chances throughout the first half, but were let down by their lackluster finishing.

And they went further behind 10 minutes into the second half, when Neymar was fouled inside the box. Lionel Messi took the spot-kick and blasted home Barcelona’s fourth.

Suarez was replaced by new signing Paco Alcacer in the 55th minute. And the young Spanish striker put the ball in the back of the net, only to be denied by the offside flag. Barcelona got their fifth eventually, when Rafinha curled in a shot from the edge of the box.