No Messi? No problem – La Liga week 8 round-up

Barcelona faced a physical but struggling Real Valladolid side without the spearhead of their attack, Lionel Messi. At first it looked as though they may have missed the spirit of the nippy Argentine, with the visitors taking a surprise lead from a set piece, something that manager Tata Martino expressed disappointment about. However, the current leaders and champions were able to find their stride and stroll to a 4-1 victory with goals from Sanchez, Xavi, and Neymar.

Neymar and Sanchez doing the business for Barca

Cristian Tello was handed a surprise start, with the likes of Iniesta and Pedro left on the bench. The youngster justified his selection in the first team with two assists, importantly for the first two goals, bringing his side from 1-0 down to 2-1 up. Elsewhere, Chilean star Alexis Sanchez was also able to step up to the plate and fill in the gaps that come with an injury to a player of such importance as Lionel Messi. The former Udinese winger scored the first and third goals in a game which, like Tello, he was given a rare starting position.

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