Half-Time Report: Lionel Messi double gives Barcelona a two-goal lead

There have been goals galore at Riazor so far this evening, with Barcelona leading Deportivo la Coruna 4-2 at the break.

No sooner had the game kicked off than Barcelona were ahead. After just three minutes Jordi Alba scored his first goal for the club, finishing well after a nice pass put him clean through.

It was 2-0 a few minutes later when Lionel Messi clipped the ball over to Cristian Tello on the left. The young winger dipped inside and then back out before firing past a hapless Daniel Aranzubia.

After 17 minutes Barcelona were three up. A nice back-heel from Cesc Fabregas put Messi in space and the Argentine did not disappoint, firing in from outside the box.

Messi almost got his second not long after as a good Barcelona move allowed David Villa to find Messi in the box, but Aranzubia saved well.

From the resulting corner, Deportivo broke well and were awarded a penalty when Riki was brought down by Javier Mascherano. Pizzi stepped up and scored to make it 3-1.

The goal gave the home side some confidence and Deportivo began to pass the ball better and gain a foothold in the game.

Deportivo then got a second goal on 37 minutes. Alex Bergantinos's shot from the edge of the box seemed comfortable for Victor Valdes, but the goalkeeper could not get his body behind the ball and it squirmed in.

With two minutes to go to the break, Barcelona extended the deficit two once again. Fabregas produced a great pass for Messi, who finished well yet again.