Madrid: Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas each scored twice as Barcelona thrilled the Nou Camp with a crushing 4-0 win over Osasuna in their King's Cup last 16 first leg on Wednesday.
The Spanish, European and world champions completely dominated their La Liga rivals, victory made all the sweeter when talisman Messi came off the bench to add two goals to a pair of first-half strikes from the former Arsenal captain.
Barca had said Messi would miss the game with flu but the Argentine World Player of the Year was able to replace Pedro for the final half hour against an outclassed Osasuna.
Fabregas, who was at Barca's youth school with Messi before moving to London, put the home side ahead in the 13th minute.
He doubled their lead five minutes later with a fine piece of close control and a sublime chip over goalkeeper Asier Riesgo.
The 24-year-old Fabregas has been in blistering form since returning to the Catalan capital in the close season and thriving in the more advanced role he has been given by coach Pep Guardiola.
Messi netted a rare header from a Fabregas cross 20 minutes from time before picking up a pass from the influential Xavi in added time and curling a shot into the corner of the net.
"I didn't vomit and there was no fever, I just had a stomach ache, nothing more," Messi said in a television interview.
"That's why I couldn't take part in this morning's training but later on I recovered enough to be able to play." Barring upsets in next week's second legs, Barca face a quarter-final clash with rival Real Madrid, who beat them 1-0 in last year's final.
Results
- First leg (La Liga unless stated, numerals denote division):
- Sociedad 2 Mallorca 0
- Barcelona 4 Osasuna 0
- Played on Tuesday
- Real Madrid 3 Malaga 2
- Alcorcon (II) 2 Levante 1
- Mirandes (III) 2 Santander 0
- Albacete (III) 0 Bilbao 0
