Barca Batters Betis 5 - 0

Like a Formula 1 driver taking a victory lap after the race, on Wednesday night Messi Wan Kenobi paraded his new Ballon D'Or in front of the Barcelona faithful at Camp Nou, flanked by runners-up Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, before Barca lined up and battered Real Betis into submission, with yet another 5 - 0 scoring performance.  The amazing sight of the three Barca Ballon D'Or candidates escorting the trophy around Camp Nou, was surely a historic moment for FC Barcelona.

Initially Real Betis managed to hold Barca at bay, and it wasn't until just before half time that Messi opened the scoring, with a pretty chipped ball over Betis Keeper Castro Espinosa, at the end of yet another telepathic through ball by Andres Iniesta.  Overmatched, Real Betis gamely did their best, pounding a shot off the cross bar at the end of the first half that perhaps should have gone in.

Returning to the pitch after halftime, Messi's trademark persistent aggression when the ball is at his feet, manufactured another goal in the 62d minute; and then eleven minutes later, Messi Wan Kenobi scored the hat trick on a clean breakaway run for his third goal of the evening.  Late goals by Pedro and Seydou Keita ended the battering with a final score of 5 - Nil.

After the match, Barca defender Danny Alves gave an interview to Spanish Television, in which he stated (in translation), "This game will end much of the debate [about the Ballon d'Or].  It is in good hands.  Messi is the best and he proves it every day. The other two deserved it as well, but it's clear he is different from the rest."

Indeed.