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| Lionel Messi and Arda Turan celebrate vs Borussia Monchengladbach |
FC Barcelona finished their 2016/2017 UEFA Champions League group stage campaign in style after they beat German side Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 in their final game of group C to top the standings in beautiful fashion.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring but couldn’t match Cristiano Ronaldo’s CL group stage record but then Arda Turan scored three times in quick succession to give Luis Enrique’s side a comfortable and deserved 4-0 victory after a wonderful performance by the entire team.
Barça had already secured top spot prior to the game with their opponent already assured of a Europa League spot after finishing third so both teams had nothing to play for bar pride. Barça dominated from the start with an XI that saw Cillessen, Aleix Vidal, Umtiti, Digne, Denis, Iniesta, Alcácer and Turan all starting.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring on 16 minutes. The Argentine made a beautiful run in the centre before picking Arda Turan on the left who made a fine cut-back pass to feed Messi for a well-placed shot, 1-0 already.
Messi looked to be in the mood and he forced Yann Sommer to a save later on with a powerful drive. Barça kept on dominating proceedings and Messi came close once again but his shot was blocked by Strobl after a good link up between Aleix Vidal and Denis Suárez on the right.
The second half started and it didn’t take time for Barça to make it 2-0. Vidal and Denis Suarez combined once again on the right, allowing the latter to make a cross which was deflected onto the path of Arda Turan who headed past Sommer after 50 minutes.
Three minutes later, Aleix Vidal was among the evildoers once again, the right-back found Arda Turan with a great low cross from the right for the Turkish star to slot in past a motionless Sommer.
Alcácer had a shot saved by Sommer later on but was influential to Barça’s fourth and Arda’s hat-trick has his fine square ball set up the Turkish star for a tap in. Sommer pulled off one of the saves of the week to deny Messi from adding to his tally from a fine diving header late on. 4-0 it ended at the Camp Nou, Barça deserved winner.