Lionel Messi ended his goalless run in sensational style as he scored four goals to help reigning champions Barcelona beat Eibar to record a fourth consecutive win in La Liga.
A complete Messi show brought back the vintage Bluagrana as the result put the pressure back on title rivals Real Madrid.
Messi scored three goals in 26 first-half minutes before adding a late fourth as he followed up debutant Martin Braithwaite’s saved attempt.
GAME! SETIÉN! MATCH!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 22, 2020
5️⃣ Barça (#Messi 14', 37', 40', 87'; @arthurhromelo, 89')
0️⃣ Eibar
Match Center Live: https://t.co/OI4NVowk6i pic.twitter.com/W0Yyov4MN9
Arthur added a fifth two minutes later after Braithwaite was again denied.
Barcelona move two points above Real Madrid, who face Levante later.
After a slow start, Messi scored a sensational opener when he rounded off a brilliant solo run by chipping the ball over Eibar’s Marko Dmitrovic after 14 minutes.
As half-time approached, another quick burst of pace culminated in Messi firing a second low into the corner, and the Argentina forward converted from a loose ball three minutes later to kill the contest before the break.
Eibar continued to battle in the second half as both sides had goals ruled out for offside, but the hosts finished with a flurry as Messi capped a wonderful individual performance with his fourth three minutes from time and Arthur completed the route.
The defending La Liga champions face Napoli in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday, before travelling to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid on Sunday.
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