Barcelona put 7 past a distorted Valencia side with both Messi and Suarez scoring hat-tricks. The Catalans were in rampaging mood with their smooth passing at their very best. Valencia also had a man sent off yesterday to compound their misery.
Gary Neville is still without a win since taking over as Valencia manager and this was his worst defeat in all the games he has been in charge. Barcelona though continued to write more records into the history books.
Both Messi and Suarez reached personal landmarks while also taking Barcelona past the 100 goal mark. Out of those 100, Barcelona’s MSN trio have scored 75. Suarez has 33, Messi with 21 and Neymar with 21.
This is also the first time two players have scored four goals in the same season for Barcelona since the turn of the century. Luis Suarez yesterday and Neymar against Rayo Vallecano in October in La Liga
Barcelona are also now 16 games undefeated in the Copa Del Rey equalling records from 1928-1929, 1997-1999 and 2011-2013.
Luis Suarez has an average of more than a goal every game scoring 35 in 33 appearances for the Blaugrana. The Uruguayan hitman also holds a unique record by being the only player to bag a hat-trick in three different competitions this season.
Lionel Messi has now scored 10 goals in 2016. No other player in La Liga has more than the Argentine since the turn of the year. But the most important milestone for the 5 time Ballon d ‘Or winner is that of reaching 500 career goals for Barcelona.
With this hat-trick he has continued his fine return to form after injury. He has now scored 18 in his last 16 games.
The Argentine has scored his second hat-trick after the start of the year. How man more will the great man get by the end of it?
Neymar’s scoring spree, on the other hand, has slowed down a little with him missing another penalty in yesterday’s game. He has now missed 4 of the eight penalties he has taken for Barcelona this season.
Barcelona will play Valencia away in the second leg of their Copa Del Rey clash on the 10th of February.