After FC Barcelona’s poor away record so far this season, a Lionel Messi hat trick may have been one of the last results predicted for the La Liga game against Málaga CF in La Rosaleda. Though the game kicked off less than commandingly, the three-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner proved that home or away, this team can never be discounted.

Head coach Pep Guardiola decided to rest a few starting eleven veterans, such as Xavi and Puyol, after the intense 2-1 Copa del Rey victory in Madrid last Wednesday. Valdés, Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Abidal, Busquets, Iniesta, Thiago, Adriano, Messi and Alexis were the ones who began the game on the pitch.

The very first action of the match involved Busquets fouling Eliseu and conceding a free kick to Málaga which went wide. In the 7th minute, Barcelona had its first real chance to score after Messi passed to Thiago on the left who assisted Alexis. However, the Chilean’s diving header was caught by Málaga goalkeeper Caballero. Two minutes later, Messi took a top of the box shot but the ball deflected off a defender and flew out for a corner.

The 15th minute saw Málaga with its first goal scoring opportunity as Isco almost curled a distance shot into the far-post from distance but Valdés was able to tip it out for a corner. Valdés again saved an effort from Isco after a corner, first denying a header with his leg and then blocking the rebound from close-range. Set pieces seemed to be the technique of choice as in the 19th minute, Piqué whipped a powerful header but failed to aim correctly.

Demichelis was forced to clear a Messi shot off the line in the 29th minute, after Abidal could not settle the ball in the box and assisted Messi instead. Cabellero had made some very crucial saves for Málaga, but unfortunately he could not keep out Messi’s wicked 33rd minute header. Adriano crossed the ball into the box and straight to Messi’s head. The long awaited goal had finally arrived.

At halftime, Barcelona led 1-0 and may have felt unlucky that the margin was not wider. However, given the team’s shaky away form this season, a goal lead with 45 minutes still left to play was not a bad start at all.

The momentum that began late in the first half only continued to build into the second. Just three minutes in, Alexis converted Barcelona’s second goal of the evening. The ball was bouncing around Málaga’s box, first from a low shot by Thiago that was pushed away by Cabellero only to be sent back in again by Adriano. Thiago took another shot but was again stopped by Cabellero whose luck had apparently run out as Alexis was able to steal the rebound and the second goal.

In the 51st minute, Messi secured his brace in his usual fashion. Málaga turned the ball over in its own half and Messi took advantage by making one of his stunning runs to goal and slotting the ball inside the opposite post after an assist from Thiago. Nine minutes later, Málaga realized it was time for some changes and substituted on Rondón and Miglierina for Van Nistelrooy and Maresca respectively.

The first yellow card of the game was given in the 62nd minute to Camacho for tackling Busquets. After another two minutes, Barcelona made its first change when goal scorer Alexis was replaced by Cuenca. The 67th minute also saw Adriano leave for Dos Santos.

Messi nearly had his third when he curled a shot into the upper corner only to have the ball ricochet off the crossbar and shoot down and away from goal. In that same 73rd minute, Barcelona’s last substitution of Pedro on for Iniesta was made. Five minutes later, Málaga did likewise and changed Iraheta off for Recio.

Messi’s hat trick had been lurking for a while and was finally unleashed in the 80th minute. Pedro gave the assist, but this was another of Messi’s largely solo efforts that saw him dribble into the box and neatly shoot past Cabellero.

Perhaps with a four goal to nil lead, and less than ten minutes to play, Barcelona eased up a bit. However, this was just enough to allow Málaga to pull one back late. In the 85th minute, Rondón received the ball from Recio and was able to finish with a grounded strike past Valdés.

The game ended 4-1 in Barcelona’s favor which was an unexpected result on various accounts. In the beginning of the match, the absence of resident playmaker Xavi was blatantly clear and it was unsure if the team would find its direction and goals without him. However, at the end when Barcelona was four goals ahead, if another goal was anticipated it would have been for the blaugrana manita, not a Málaga consolation prize. This successful away game, though, was good for the players’ confidence, especially as they head into the final Copa del Rey leg against Real Madrid CF at home midweek.

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