Messi and Barcelona have mercy on Deportivo

Barcelona had Deportivo under their thumb from the start. Possession was for the hosts and it was not long before the chances began to test Deportivo goalkeeper Ruben. Messi, who presented his Golden Boot award to the crowd at the Camp Nou, surprised everyone by firing over the crossbar. It was not the Argentine's day in front of goal.

Luis Suarez had the ball in the back of the net after six minutes, but it did not count with the offside flag being raised before Paco Alcacer squared for the Uruguayan. It was not the only time Suarez was penalised, making it perfectly clear throughout the evening that he did not agree with the referee's decisions.

Some decent defending from the visitors kept Barcelona at bay until a flurry of chances snapped the La Liga leaders out of their lethargic state. Ruben pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to deny Messi and Aleix Vidal, who replaced Alcacer after his injury, but there was nothing the keeper could do to stop Luis Suarez from giving his side the lead.

Iniesta produced a sublime pass to find Messi in behind the defence and the Argentine brought it down with his chest before squaring for Suarez. Messi may not have had his scoring boots on but that did not stop him from assisting his teammates.

Having taken the lead, Barcelona were happy to look for another opening with more patient build-up play. The woodwork stood in Messi's way for the first time in the evening when he received the return pass from Suarez in the box and his curling strike hammered the underside of the crossbar before going wide.

Messi's particular curse of hitting the frame of the goal this season was furthered three minutes later when he got around Schar in the box to strike, hitting the base of the post. The ball landed to Paulinho who got a foot in to poke it into the back of the net.

Barcelona cranked up the pressure and it was time for controversy at the stroke of half time when Luis Suarez's rabona effort was pushed away by Ruben. The Barcelona striker thought it was over the line but referee Mateu Lahoz waved away appeals from the home contingent.

A frantic end to the first half was equalled by the start of the second when Suarez finally banged in his second thanks to a fine low cross from Sergi Roberto. The Uruguayan striker made the run to the back post to tap in his brace.

Deportivo never gave up and they had their chances to shine with brief spells of possession in the Barcelona half, but this is a goals-based business and Ter Stegen was not truly tested until stoppage time at the Camp Nou. Messi continued on his quest to beat Ruben, but the post once again thwarted his efforts as he hit the upright from a set piece 25 yards out.

Meanwhile, Suarez was denied the chance to complete his hat-trick as Ruben raced off his line to stop him with a firm hand. Despite leaving the Camp Nou having conceded four goals, the goalkeeper was one of the best for the visitors. He showed it once again moments later, when Suarez was fouled by Valverde in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Messi took the penalty and Ruben went the right way to push it clear. Paulinho grabbed Barca's fourth with another rebounded goal, this time after Jordi Alba smacked the upright. Suarez hit the outside of the same post towards the end of the clash before Ter Stegen denied Perez a late consolation goal.