Soccer Football - Santander La Liga - FC Barcelona vs Eibar - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 19, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Eibar’s Paulo Oliveira REUTERS/Albert Gea
MADRID (Reuters) - Lionel Messi's four-goal masterclass in the 6-1 demolition of Eibar on Tuesday was warmly welcomed by Ernesto Valverde but held little surprise for the Barcelona coach.
The clinical Argentine Messi now has 11 goals in his last five games in all competitions and with record signing Ousmane Dembele injured and Luis Suarez rested, he put on a sensational show at Camp Nou to extend Barcelona's La Liga lead.
