An inspired Lionel Messi responded to another penalty miss in style as Barcelona routed Getafe 6-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday to take another step toward defending its Liga title.
The Argentina international recorded three assists in a single top-flight game for the first time and got on the score sheet himself as Barca - which started with Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Dani Alves on the bench, with one eye on the Champions League clash with Arsenal next week - put in a ruthless display.
Real Madrid loanee Alvaro Medran spoke before the game of the need to exploit Barcelona's weaknesses, but Juan Rodriguez's own goal gave Barca the lead and Getafe provided scant evidence that they believed in a comeback, even after Messi missed his fourth league spot kick in eight attempts this season.
Munir El Haddadi, starting for Suarez, doubled the lead from Messi's cross and the Argentine played in Neymar to score the third as Barca breezed through the visiting defense at will.
Messi produced more magic to fire in a fourth before half-time and another fine through ball allowed Neymar to make it five, before Arda Turan's clever finish from close range gave the home side its sixth inside the opening hour.
Luis Enrique withdrew Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Jeremy Mathieu in the closing stages as his side cruised to another victory in its quest to defend the treble.
Getafe had not won at Camp Nou in La Liga in eight attempts prior to Saturday's game, and made the task of halting tha
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