Barcelona ran riot at the Camp Nou yesterday, as the Catalans put a staggering seven goals past a hapless Valencia in their Copa del Rey semifinal first leg last night. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored all of Barcelona’s seven goals in a thrilling display of attacking football.
Luis Suarez opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 6th minute, while adding a second soon after in the 12th minute. Lionel Messi made it three for Barca within 30 minutes, as the Catalans went into the break with a three goal advantage.
Messi scored his second of the night before the hour mark, while completing his hat-trick in the 74th minute. Suarez completed his own hat-trick in the final 10 minutes, as he made is 6-0 in the 83 minute while completing the rout in the 88th minute with his fourth goal of the night.
Here are the player ratings from the game:
Barcelona
Ter Stegen – 6.5/10
With the forwards running riot, the Barcelona keeper was rarely called into action, but looked fairly comfortable when required to do so.
Aleix Vidal – 7.5/10
The Barcelona right back was quite brilliant down Barcelona’s right, frequently bombing up and down the pitch to carry out his attacking and defensive resposibilities, while also setting up Luis Suare for Barcelona’s second goal.
Jerome Mathieu 7/10
The Frenchman had one of his better games in a Barca shirt, passing out from the back with aplomb while also having a long range effort on goal.
Gerard Pique 7/10
The Barcelona defender was rarely troubled in defence, and was thus free to join in Barcelona’s attacks, often starting them from deep while also pushing up the pitch.
Jordi Alba – 6.5/10
The left-back wasn’t as adventurous as his counterpart on the right,but was tidy in possession while also being alert to extinguish any danger on the left.
Sergio Busquets – 9/10
The Barcelona midfielder produced a complete performance, sniffing out danger in midfield while setting up several chances, including a long ball that resulted in a penalty.
Andres Iniesta – 8.5/10
Iniesta produced a typically authoritative performance, as he sliced Valencia apart repeatedly as his dribbling runs were often the beginning of Barcelona’s attacking moves.
Arda Turan – 7/10
The Turk was Barcelona’s quietest midfielder, but linked up between attack and defence well, without creating any clear cut chances.
Neymar – 8.5/10
It’s rare that a player that misses a penalty is awarded such a high score, but Neymar was instrumental in almost all of Barcelona’s goals, while only lacking a goal for his efforts.
Lionel Messi – 9.5/10
The world’s best player scored a wonderful hat-trick, won a penalty and generally ran the game. A masterclass of a performance that is under-appreciated because of its familiarity.
Luis Suarez – 10/10
A perfect striker’s template, Suarez scored 4 and could have had more, while his ingenious dummy that allowed Messi to score his first was genius personified.
Subs
Marc Bartra – 6/10
A 29 minute cameo that required very little of him, as Valencia failed to threaten, after he came on to replace Pique
Sergi Roberto – 6.5/10
The midfielder was Iniesta’s replacement, and while not as purposeful with the ball, kept things ticking over to preserve Barcelona’s rhythm.
Adriano – 7/10
The left back replaced Alba in the 69th minute and was quite bright, providing an assist for Suarez’s third with a wonderful cross.
Valencia
Mathew Ryan – 5/10
The Valencia keeper was helpless for most of Barcelona’s goals, but could have done more to prevent Messi’s third at his near post, although it would have mattered little.
Antonio Barragan – 4.5/10
The Valencia right back was given a torrid time by Neymar, as the Brazilian ran him ragged after being incensed by a heavy shoulder barge by the Spaniard early on.
Shkodran Mustafi – 3/10
The German centre-back endured a pitiful game even before he received a red card before half time for bringing down Leo Messi.
Aderlan Santos – 4/10
Being part of a defence that conceded 7 goals is never great, but Santos did make a couple of good blocks that prevented the score from worsening
Jose Gaya – 4.5/10
The Valencia left-back is rated for his attacking prowess, but had little opportunity to showcase his strengths as Barcelona tormented him in defense.
Daniel Parejo – 5/10
The midfielder could not get tight to his opposition counterparts as Barcelona’s midfield ran circles around him, while he also gifted the ball to Barcelona for their fifth goal.
Joao Cancelo – 4.5/10
The wideman barely affected the game as Barcelona bypassed him, requiring him to help out in defence, to no avail.
Danilo – 5/10
The midfielder was withdrawn in the first half before he could affect the game in a positive manner
Andre Gomes – 3.5/10
The attacking midfielder barely affected the game in Valencia’s rare forays forward, and gave the ball away for Barcelona’s first goal
Guilherme Siqueira – 4/10
The wideman was sacrificed at half time following Mustafi’s red card, but barely influenced the game beforehand.
Rodrigo – 5/10
The Valencia frontman toiled hard upfront but was left isolated, thus reducing his ability to affect the game.
Subs
Sofiane Feghouli – 4/10
The Algerian came on in the first half as part of a tactical reshuffle, but could not change the course of the game
Ruben Vezo – 3/10
The central defender failed to contain Barcelona’s attack after he came on for Mustafi.
Denis Cheryshev – 5.5/10
Such a poor rating for a player who received a standing ovation from the crowd is a surprise, but that wasn’t his only contribution as he looked lively for Los Che
