Lethal Messi leads Barca to thumping Alaves win ahead of PSG test

Messi fired in two sensational long-range efforts and would have had a hat-trick at Camp Nou had a dubious VAR decision in the first half not ruled Antoine Griezmann offside.

He did tee up a second of the night for the 21-year-old Francisco Trincao and was instrumental in Junior Firpo adding a fifth too, a flamboyant scoop freeing Griezmann to send a pass to Firpo at the back post.

Victory means Barca trail Atletico Madrid by eight points again after Atletico had temporarily pulled 11 clear thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Granada earlier on Saturday.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have both played a game more than Atleti, with Zinedine Zidane's side facing Valencia at home on Sunday.

Atletico's win was a significant psychological boost on the back of slipping up for the first time in nine games at home to Celta Vigo earlier this week.

Their advantage may prove too large to close but Barcelona's tie against PSG in the Champions League, which looked to have the French side as firm favourites when the draw was made in December, now feels harder to call.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will probably be favourites ahead of the first leg at Camp Nou on Tuesday but Barca have certainly found form in recent weeks, and Messi looks close to his lethal best.

The question is whether a free-flowing attack, full of talent and orchestrated by Messi, can hurt PSG enough to make up for what remains a shaky defence, depleted by injuries and vulnerable to the counter-attack.

With Gerard Pique and the emerging Ronald Araujo both out injured, Frenkie de Jong filled in again in central defence, although the Dutchman has arguably been Barcelona's most improved player this year in the midfield three.

Instead there was a start for Ilaix Kourouma in midfield, the 18-year-old academy product who assisted Trincao's opening goal but whose misplaced pass led to Luis Rioja briefly giving Alaves hope.

After Trincao had swept home, Messi thought he had made it two, pouncing on a rebound after Griezmann missed but the goal was ruled out, even though replays suggested Griezmann was onside.

Messi made amends soon after, latching onto a Sergio Busquets pass, darting in-field and ripping a shot in off the post.

Rioja capitalised on Ilaix's mistake just before the hour but Barca pulled away with three goals in six minutes.

Pedri's pass freed Messi but he failed to round Fernando Pacheco and instead the ball spilled out for Trincao to score his second.

Messi slammed a stinging strike into the top corner from 25 yards to make it 4-1 before perhaps the goal of the night came last, Messi scooping over for Griezmann, who volleyed to the back post where Firpo could not miss.