Eight goal rout for Barcelona in Morocco

A Lionel Messi hat-trick was one of the highlights in a routine 8-0 victory for FC Barcelona over Moroccan minnows Raja Casablanca yesterday evening.

Despite new Barca boss Tito Vilanova only fielding seven first team regulars in his experimental FC Barca side, their Moroccan opponents were at sixes and sevens through-out the pre-season tie and could not deal with a vibrant Lionel Messi who netted three goals in just 64 minutes in Tangier.

Alexis Sanchez and young Dutch international Ibrahim Afellay also looked lively and linked well with Messi in a series of devastating attacks. The Chilean international Sanchez also added his name to the score-sheet twice with two well-taken goals.

Tito Vilanova who tried and tested many of his young academy starlets of whom he worked closely with prior to his first-team appointment will be very pleased with the youthful Barcelona team’s performance. After signing Spanish international Jordi Alba following a very successful Euro 2012 tournament, it is clear Barca are on a mission to bolster their squad in time for the new La Liga season which kicks off next month.