Total football (6-1)

Total football (6-1)

FC Barcelona were back to their best tonight, thrashing Zaragoza 6-1thanks to a hat trick from Keita, two from Ibrahimovic (2) and one more from Messi. The win opens up a three point gap at the top over Real Madrid.
Following their last two games without a win, Barca came back in style with six goals and some spectacular football. The team put in a pacey and controlled performance that totally outclassed Zaragoza. Although Ibrahimovic and Messi both scored great goals, it was Keita who made the most impact with his hat trick and despite their brilliant possession football, three of Barca's goals actually came from set pieces. Any doubts about the team were brushed away by the brilliant skill of Messi, Iniesta and Ibrahimovic who enthralled the 75,000 crowd. Barca came back with their best football of the season and chalked up their seventh win of the campaign, which leaves them three points clear at the top of the table.

Keita opens the scoring

Right from the start, Barca imposed their trademark passing game, dominating possession and showing all the patience needed to work their way through the Zaragoza defence. Messi came close three times in the first quarter of an hour as did Ibrahimovic, and Iniesta was unlucky to have his penalty claim turned down, but that was just a taste of what was to come – Keita got the goalfeast started with a close range header from a corner and the fans knew that they were in for a treat.

Ibra outdoes Alves

Zaragoza were being run ragged and their only hope was for Barca to somehow start to misfire, but that was never going to happen tonight as Guardiola's men hit top form and showed no mercy. Ibra got the second with a blistering free kick on the half hour that the missing Alves would have been more than proud of. Lethal attacking

There was never any doubt about the result after that, with Messi slipping in and out of the Zaragoza defensive lines seemingly at will. Barca were playing some lovely stuff now, exemplified by the third goal when Xavi slipped Ibra through and the Swedish striker squared the ball for Keita to stroke home for his second.

Ibrahimovic strikes again

Three goals hardly seemed enough for the fantastic exhibition Barca had put on in the first 45 minutes and early in the second, Messi nearly made it four with a brilliant lob that Carrizo did very well to keep out and although he missed an easy chance later on in the half, the Argentinian put in a great performance tonight. Keita and Ibrahimovic seemed determined to outshine even Messi though and the two combined for the fourth as Keita crossed from the left for the Swede to subtly steer the ball home with the outside of his foot. Barca were just oozing class and skill in almost every move.

Hat-trick from Keita

Zaragoza had their first real chance on 77 minutes when Ewerthon had a one on one with Valdes which the keeper won, only for Jorge Lopez to finish off the move with a consolation strike for the visitors. Just three minutes later, Messi made it five with a lovely lob that his time did beat the keeper. There was still more to come though as Keita again headed home from a corner for his hat trick that earned him a standing ovation from the crowd who knew they'd just seen Barca back to their very best.