Barça 4-0 Gladbach: Arda Turan hat-trick brings back Blaugrana smile

Arda Turan scored a hat-trick as a much changed Barcelona side beat Borussia Monchengladbach at Camp Nou on Wednesday to end a run of three consecutive draws. 

Barca boss Luis Enrique said in his pregame press conference on Tuesday that winning is the solution for everything and he will certainly hope that will prove the case. After a disappointing run of performances, which led to poor results, the Catalan side were back on form here, even if there was nothing up for grabs with their position as group winners already guaranteed. 

As with Saturday’s Clasico, despite the draw on that occasion, the key was Andres Iniesta. With a little bit of Lionel Messi for good measure. It was the latter who opened the scoring with his 10th goal in the competition, before Arda, filling in for the suspended Neymar scored a treble. 

All six of Barcelona’s summer signings started the game, as did the two from last year, Arda and Alei Vidal. They were joined by Javier Mascherano, Iniesta and Messi and the inclusion of the latter two brought out the best of the others. There were particularly good performances from Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes in midfield.  

Messi’s goal came after 16 minutes and was set up by Arda. The Turkish international pulled the ball back and Messi stroked into the far corner. The Argentine should have had a second moments later, but his shot was pushed behind by Yann Sommer. A beautiful Denis back heel, followed by a Vidal cross then saw another chance for Messi. This time it was deflected wide.  

Iniesta also shot wide and a Turan effort was easily saved by Sommer, but Barca ended the first half with just the one goal. They also ended it with 583 passed — according to Opta statistiscs no team has played as many passes in a Champions League first half as that since records began. Iniesta completed 96 out of 105 in the opening 45 minutes. 

Any hopes of a German comeback in the second half were wiped away via two Arda goals in the space of three minutes. The first was a far post header from a deflected cross and the second a good finish after good work from Messi and a Vidal cross. The clock read 52 minutes and the gig was up. 

Perhaps the sour note for Barça was that Paco Alcacer’s bad luck in front of goal continues. He’s now into double figures in terms of appearances for the club and is yet to score. The striker saw a shot saved by Sommer here, before turning provider for Arda to complete his hat-trick at the far post. An assist is not a goal, though. Not for a forward. 

There was time for Messi to go close to a second goal, his diving header producing a great save from Sommer. 

Gladbach had chances as the game ended and Barça relaxed. But they couldn’t find a goal for the visiting supporters — and there were plenty of them — to celebrate. They could have had a penalty following a Mascherano challenge after Rafinha had given the ball away, but referee Sergei Karasev said no. 

Fabian Johnson had a chance, too. He rounded Jasper Cillessen but was forced to wide and his cross back into the box was scrambled clear.