Barcelona lit the Nou Camp alight with some mesmerising football on display as a brace each from Luis Suarez and Paulinho ensured a 4-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.
Christmas is indeed arriving. But, it seems the festival has arrived rather early for Barcelona fans, with the club now settled comfortably atop the La Liga table, with a sizeable gap between them and the chasing pack.
Sunday brought some more of the holiday cheer to the home fans as Barcelona dismantled a hapless Deportivo La Coruna side. A brace each from Luis Suarez and Paulinho saw the home side pump in four past the visitors.
Luis Suarez was lively throughout the match. But, it was Lionel Messi who stole the limelight, with his unselfish assist for the Uruguayan’s first goal and his missed penalty effort in a highly unlucky night for the Argentine. The global icon hit the woodwork a number of times and the missed penalty meant he did not register his name on the scoresheet.
Question:
If you get to take the match-ball home with you after a hat-trick, does Messi now get to take the woodwork home, since he’s hit it three times?
— Jen Evelyn (@JenFCB) December 17, 2017
Messi top scorer in league with 14 goals.
He’s also hit the post 14 times.— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) December 17, 2017
Look at Messi orchestrating from waaaaaaaay deep.
A midfielder, simple as it gets. pic.twitter.com/6D5paM0I7g
— Messi ankle tape (@Breathe_Messi) December 17, 2017
Messi misses again, and the Camp Nou doesn’t even boo or criticize him.
Instead, the stadium responds by starting “MES-SI, MES-SI” chants.
Only the highest respects for the Greatest of all Time.— Juan (@socraticjuan) December 17, 2017
Messi has 2 Goals in his last 11 Games pic.twitter.com/9TRZqS6hX9
— Hammad (@Ronaldoesquee) December 18, 2017
Messi deliberately missed all of the chances he had tonight in order to break Gerd Müller’s record at the Santiago Bernabéu. What a man.
— Cruyffista (@BusquetsLegacy) December 17, 2017
Messi has had so many games when he was the best player on the pitch without scoring or when he was poor in front of the goal. Historic performances even.
— Josip (@jperkovic93) December 17, 2017
What if Messi is saving the goals for classico?
— Messina❤ FCB (@spicy_xx) December 17, 2017
Messi saving his goals for Saturday. #ElClásico
— Chef (@champ_ian) December 17, 2017
Paulinho though, put in an impressive shift yet again. Both of his goals were a result of rebounds, which just proves his ability to hustle and be the first man to reach the ball.
Paulinho’s legend grows. ? pic.twitter.com/pWUs6pEzMq
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 17, 2017
“Why have Barcelona signed Paulinho?!”
Paulinho has now scored more La Liga goals this season than Cristiano Ronaldo.
— bet365 (@bet365) December 17, 2017
Paulinho has the instincts of a 9.
— Darryl (@LordMoloch) December 17, 2017
Just when ronaldo thought he caught up with paulinho he scores another goal?
— 95 (@piquebIinder) December 17, 2017
Everyone made fun of Paulinho signing and he has more goals then Ronaldo hahaha
— Daniel (@Daniel1__) December 17, 2017
Wonder if Zidane’s noticed Paulinho’s success. Liga midfielders not used to tracking a powerful CM from B2B. RM should look for their own alternative in that role.
— RG (@registability) December 17, 2017
The post is Paulinho’s favourite team-mate ?
— FCB News (@FCBNewsRoom) December 17, 2017