Messi's hat-trick inspires Barca rout over Guardiola's City

BARCELONA: 

Barcelona star striker Lionel Messi scored his second hat-trick in as many Champions League games this season to give Catalan giants a 4-0 win over Manchester City as Pep Guardiola and Claudio Bravo endured harrowing returns to the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

A slip by Fernandinho allowed Messi to round former team mate Bravo and open the scoring in the 17th minute and the keeper completed a miserable night by getting sent off in the second half for handling

outside the area after losing the ball.

The magical Messi hammered in his second from the edge of the area after turning two City defenders and pounced on a Luis Suarez lay-off to complete his treble in the 69th minute.

Barca substitute Jeremy Mathieu was then dismissed for two bookable offences. Neymar had a late penalty saved by substitute keeper Willy Caballero but the Brazilian made amends by scoring the fourth goal in the 89th minute.

“It’s difficult to play with Barcelona against 11 men, and with 10, it was practically all over,” said Guardiola, who remains adamant that he would not blame City goalkeeper for the error which effectively ended his side’s night. “Mistakes happen. He is sad but he will learn a lot. As long as I’m a coach, I’ll keep playing out from the goalkeeper,” he added.

On the other end, Luis Enrique, who played at Barcelona alongside Guardiola, said that visitors paid for their mistake.”Perhaps the result is a bit unfair on them,” he said. “But if you commit grave errors and you have three forwards like ours against you, this is what happens.”

Barcelona now lead the group with nine points, followed by City on four. Borussia Moenchengladbach have three points while Celtic are bottom with one.