• La Liga

Messi and Fabregas star as Barcelona hit eight

ESPN staff
September 17, 2011
Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi appear to have quickly found the same wavelength at Barcelona © PA Photos
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After two games without a win, Barcelona bounced back in style as they thrashed Osasuna 8-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Barcelona entered the game on the back of successive 2-2 draws with Real Sociedad and AC Milan, but they maintained over 80 per cent possession as they threatened to run up double figures.

Lionel Messi started the rout in only the fifth minute, converting at the back post after Daniel Alves had crossed with his head. Barca enjoyed total domination throughout a first half in which they could feasibly have scored ten goals. In the end, it was 5-0 at half-time, courtesy of Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, a Roversio own goal and a second from Messi.

Fabregas and Messi, in particular, appear to be building a frightening understanding, the Argentinian dinking the ball over the Osasuna defence for Fabregas to volley home, before the former Arsenal man returned the favour when swivelling and passing for Messi to score Barca's fifth.

Xavi extended the scoreline in the 57th minute with a delightful chip after Messi's pinpoint pass, before Fabregas set up Villa for a seventh. Then, only a couple of minutes later, Messi completed his hat-trick by running directly through the heart of the visitors' defence for 8-0.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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