Arda treble inspires Barcelona to Mönchengladbach win
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Article summary
Already through, Barcelona concluded their Group C campaign with a 4-0 home victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach shaped by a first European hat-trick for Arda Turan.
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Arda Turan scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick as Barcelona eased past Borussia Mönchengladbach to end their Group C campaign in style.
Barça dominated from the outset and took the lead when Lionel Messi played a slick one-two with Arda before beating Yann Sommer for his tenth goal of this 2016/17 group stage.
Two goals in the space of four second-half minutes from Arda all but ended the Foals' hopes of a comeback, but there was still time for the Turkish international to complete his treble and rub salt into Gladbach's wounds.
Key player: Arda Turan (Barcelona)
Messi was widely expected to steal the headlines, but the night belonged to Arda. All three of his goals were superbly executed, as was his 16th-minute assist for Messi. Luis Enrique will be delighted with the midfielder's all-round display.
High press
Intelligent, relentless pressing has recently been a lesser element of Barcelona's play – the Azulgrana have given opponents more breathing space of late. Here it was back. With a vengeance. Cohesive, energetic and effective, it was a central reason for the comfort of Barcelona's win.
Tough school
This was a difficult evening for Borussia, but the likes of Nico Elvedi, Andreas Christensen and Mahmoud Dahoud – three of Gladbach's brightest prospects – will only benefit from the experience of facing one of the best teams on the continent. After all, stronger sides than Mönchengladbach have conceded four at the Camp Nou.
Reporters' views
Graham Hunter, Barcelona (@BumperGraham)
Of course Arda will take the headlines. Deservedly so. But his goals and assist aside, his night was a microcosm of the collective performance and attitude. Luis Enrique will glow when he goes back through the DVD. Every single player who does not usually get a start excelled. In their display, demeanour, team spirit, and efficacy.
Matthew Howarth, Mönchengladbach reporter (@UEFAcomMattH)
Given Borussia's troubles on the road this season, it would have been fanciful to anticipate anything other than a comfortable Barcelona victory. André Schubert and his players will not be too downhearted after this result, though, especially with UEFA Europa League football on the horizon.