Not as easy as it looks – Messi

Barca forward Lionel Messi said the Catalan side are making things easier than they look after Sunday’s 5-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp.

Barca have now won their last two league matches at home by that scoreline – having impressively dispatched fierce rivals Real Madrid two weeks ago – and have dropped only five points in the league all season.

The Catalans also recently thrashed Almeria 8-0 away from home and beat Osasuna 3-0 in Pamplona last weekend, despite undergoing a stressful journey to reach the game on time following an air controllers’ strike.

“It looks easy, but it isn’t,” the Argentina forward told reporters.

“It was hard for us, especially in the first half, when they closed up at the back.”

Nevertheless, it took Barca just eight minutes to go ahead, with David Villa opening the scoring with a simple finish after Messi himself had freed Pedro on the right.

Andres Iniesta scored a second before Messi added a second-half brace to take his tally in the league to 17 in just 15 games. The 23-year-old also hit the post late on before substitute Bojan Krkic made it 5-0 a minute from time.

“The truth is things are turning out well for us and we are playing at a great level,” Messi said.

Messi is in the running to win this year’s Golden Ball, along with Barca team-mates Iniesta and Xavi, who have also made the final shortlist of three.

“The important thing is that the three of us are there,” Messi said.

“In fact, it is great that three Barcelona players are there.”

Barca have now scored 26 goals and let in none in their last six matches – four in the Primera Liga and two in the Champions League.

And Barca coach Pep Guardiola says it is a privilege to be in charge of such an impressive team.

“We have to be aware of what this team is achieving,” he said.

“It is a privilege to be living this. I am sure we can get even better.”