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| Rafinha celebrates goal against Deportivo |
FC Barcelona returned to winning ways in La Liga after they beat a not-convincing Deportivo La Coruña side 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening to pick up all three points.
The game saw the return of star man Lionel Messi and the Argentine didn’t waste time in making his present felt as he scored with only his second touch of the game. Rafinha Alcántara also grabbed a brace while Luis Suárez scored the other goal before being subbed off for Paco Alcácer at halftime.
Luis Enrique opted for a 3-4-3 formation with Mathieu-Piqué-Mascherano in central defence while Lucas Digne played in left midfield. Barça started well although they lacked precision at some point but it wasn’t enough to stop them as a beautiful short pass from Luis Suárez found Rafinha on the right and the Brazilian slotted past German Lux to make it 1-0 for Barça after 21 minutes.
Rafinha got his brace and made it 2-0 15 minutes later. A Neymar cross from the right was met with a powerful header from Gérard Piqué but Germán Lux could only parry unto the path of Rafinha who fired a shot into an empty net to get his fourth goal of the season.
Suárez who has been rusty in the previous minutes redeemed himself with 2 minutes left to play in the first half as he scored from close range after beating his marker with an exquisite turn, Neymar getting the assist with a perfect pass.
Luis Suárez was brought off for Paco Alcácer at halftime as Luchó sought to give him a rest ahead of the Champions League game vs Man City. Barça reduced the pace but then Messi entered the frame 15 minutes into the second half and changed the motion of the game, scoring 3 minutes after his entry. Neymar, who had been having a perfect game found Messi with a no-look pass and the Argentina captain did well to fire a left-footer past Lux, 4-0.
Salt was added to Deportivo’s injury as Laure was sent off for elbowing Neymar. Paco Alcácer was very unlucky not to open his goalscoring account for the club, coming very close on three occasions. The first a header parried by Lux onto the crossbar, the second a clear chance but he shot straight at Lux and the third a close range miss after he failed to convert a pass from Arda.
Still, Barça got the deserved 3 points as they prepare for their Champions League clash against Manchester City in midweek.