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Barcelona resumed their La Liga campaign against Sevilla on Saturday night as the visitors were brushed aside 5-1 by the Blaugranas. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and thus became the all-time top goalscorer in La Liga history.While Suarez is still in his settling phase, Neymar was at his usual best, combining well with Messi. Barcelona secured a much needed win and they currently sit at 2nd place behind league leaders Real Madrid.Here are five talking points from the game.
#1 Messi does what he does best
In a week that saw doubts emerging over whether Lionel Messi will honour his current contract at Barcelona, the Argentine forward answered all of his doubters in the best possible way. Not only did he score a hat-trick against Sevilla, but also broke the record for the most goals in La Liga.
His goals were each in their own way, brilliant. If the first was a perfectly executed free-kick, the second showed his desire and hunger to beat Telmo Zarra's record which stood for almost 60 years and his third was a classic Messi goal, cutting inside, playing a one-two before curling the ball from the edge of the box past the keeper.
And just like that Messi now has 253 goals in 289 League games. And lest we forget, he is still only 27.
#2 Much needed home win for the Catalans
After three thoroughly unconvincing performances that yielded just three points, a victory was needed against a Sevilla side who were just two points behind them in the League.
And not just any victory, a convincing victory was required, especially on the back of two straight losses to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo and an abysmal performance against Almeria where they were lucky to escape with a win.
Thankfully for the Catalans who turned up, they were served up a treat as Messi and Neymar showed just how good they can be when they link up. Although they scored five, there could've been so much more and that is certainly encouraging signs for the Catalan faithful.
#3 Substitutes kill the game for Sevilla
Far too often, when teams come to either Real Madrid or Barcelona, they are guilty of just sitting back and defending deep in their own half. Luis Enrique knew that a side coached by Unai Emery was unlikely to do that.
In that regard, this was always going to be an open entertaining game in which both sides attacked. But Emery's decision to bring on two attacking players on the hour mark when the score was 2-1 ended up costing the visitors dear.
Even before the two substitutes came on, the game was becoming far too open and the visitors' defence was being stretched. But those changes decisively turned the tide in the Catalans favour as they had more space to run into and Xavi could take his time to pick out the passes.
While it was certainly a bold move by Emery, it back fired and a close, hard-fought win was turned into a lop-sided affair by the end.
#4 Suarez starting to shine
It looked as though it was all set up. Neymar put in a brilliant low cross from the left and with the keeper nowhere near, it looked as though Luis Suarez was going to get his first goal for Barcelona.
But alas, it wasn't to be as Messi swooped in and scored the goal that took him past Telmo Zarra as the record goal scorer in La Liga.
At times it looked as though the Argentine was reluctant to pass to the Uruguayan, but the former Liverpool striker looks like he is slowly but surely integrating into the Catalan way. His assist for Rakitic's goal made it four assists in his last three games.
While he has been slightly unlucky and at times uncharacteristically indecisive in front of goal, goals will surely come. And while it might not be as many as it was for Liverpool, they will certainly add to his all-round game which has already blossomed very well.
#5 Will this spark another winning streak?
The 5-1 win over Sevilla meant that the Catalans closed the gap to Real Madrid to just two points. After a brilliant start to the season that saw them win seven of their opening eight games, the Blaugrana were wobbling over the past few weeks and victory over Sevilla was crucial especially considering the fixtures they have coming up.
Next weekend they travel to Valencia, followed by a derby against Espanyol at home. With a tricky couple of games coming up, it was imperative that the Catalans won against Sevilla, which they did convincingly. If
they can navigate past the next two games, they have an easy run of games until they face Atletico Madrid in the second week of January.
If they can continue their winning run, then there is a good chance that they can continue to keep in touch with Real Madrid until the next Clasico.
