Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona humbled 10-man Manchester City 4-0 in the Champions League on Pep Guardiola’s return to Camp Nou.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Messi combined well with Andres Iniesta as the Argentine charged into the box. Fernandinho lost his footing and the ball fell kindly to Messi who had all the space and time needed to round former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in a match that both teams finished with 10 men.
Things got worse on the night for Bravo, who was sent off in the 53rd minute for using his hands to block a shot outside his area, when he made a poor decision in an attempt to play out from the back.
Messi doubled the lead in the 61st minute and grabbed his third in the 69th to take his total to 89 goals in Europe’s top club competition.
Barcelona also finished the game with 10 men after substitute defender Jeremy Mathieu who replaced the injured Gerard Pique – was dismissed for two bookable offences as he brought down Raheem Sterling in the second half.
Neymar missed a late penalty for Barcelona after Fernandinho hacked down Messi in the box before scoring the fourth in the 89th minute, rounded off the win from a pass by Messi.
Manchester City won 10 matches under Guardiola, but have now gone four straight games without a win in all competitions.
Barcelona extended its unbeaten run at home in European competition to 18 matches.
City now have four points and lead Borussia Monchengladbach by a point after they beat Celtic in Glasgow.
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