The magnificent Lionel Messi scored twice, while Xavi and Cesc Fabregas were also on target as the European champions delivered a football masterclass to register the biggest final win in FIFA Club World Cup history. And the scoreline, lopsided as it was, did not in any way flatter a Barça side who produced some breathtaking football en route to reaffirming their status as the world’s foremost footballing force.
The match had been billed as a battle between Messi and Neymar, and after taking to the field side by side, both were heavily involved in some bright opening exchanges. The Barça No 10 was particularly lively, and with 13 minutes on the clock he provided the game’s first noteworthy attempt on goal.
Weaving elusively in from the right flank, he drifted away from two challenges before curling in a left-footed shot from 20 yards that Rafael Cabral only succeeded in parrying to the feet of Thiago. Taken aback by the gift, the young midfielder returned the ball goalwards, and a seemingly certain goal was only prevented when the Santos goalkeeper recovered well to block with his body.
Santos could not keep the ball out again four minutes later though, Messi providing a classy final touch at the end of a typically intricate passage of play. Working a delightful one-two with Xavi, the Barça talisman burst clear of the Santos defence before lifting a delicate finish over the advancing keeper and beyond a despairing goalline lunge from Bruno Rodrigo.
Even at this early stage, Pep Guardiola’s men looked unstoppable. And if their first goal was superb, their second was positively sublime. Xavi, having claimed an assist on the first, started and finished a mesmerising move that culminated in this elegant midfield conductor half-volleying home from 12 yards after bringing down a deflected Dani Alves cross.
While Borges finally forced Victor Valdes into action at the other end shortly after, the one-way traffic towards Cabral’s goal soon resumed. Just before the half-hour mark, another dizzying Barcelona move ended with Fabregas rattling the post from Xavi’s magnificent through ball, and it would not be long before the former Arsenal captain would go one better.
In the final minute of the half, he took the European champions out of sight, and it was no surprise that the goal rounded off another superb passage of flowing football. Messi was again at the heart of it, showing superb footwork before releasing Alves to the byline with a delightful backheel. Cabral could only palm the resultant cross away, and while he scrambled across to block Thiago’s header, the Santos keeper was powerless to prevent Fabregas slotting home the rebound.
It had been as impressive a half of football as you could wish to see, and the Catalans began the second in the same fashion. Within two minutes of the restart, Messi and Fabregas were at it again, and on this occasion only a fingertip save from Cabral prevented the Spaniard converting his colleague’s unselfish centre. Barça kept coming, and after Alves had headed wildly wide following yet more Messi prompting, the little Argentinian went through himself and was only denied by the legs of the Santos keeper.
The Brazilians were not without attacking menace themselves and their star forwards both threatened in the minutes that followed, with Valdes saving from Borges and Neymar after both managed to escape their markers. A fourth Barça goal continued to look more likely than a Santos consolation, though, and Andres Iniesta nearly provided another beauty when he volleyed just wide after a neat exchange with Fabregas.
Guardiola’s men would not be denied, however, and with eight minutes remaining they completed the rout. Fittingly, the outstanding Messi again provided the finishing touch, skipping round the keeper to slot home after sprinting through on to an Alves pass. Santos, like the rest of us, could only watch and admire. At least they had the consolation of knowing that they had been beaten by a team that is assured of a special place in football history.
Story courtesy of FIFA.com.
For more on the tournament go to www.fifa.com/clubworldcup

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