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Lionel Messi played 'like a child in the playground', says Luis Enrique after hat-trick in Manchester City mauling

Lionel Messi was like a 'child playing in the playground' as he scored a hat-trick to inspire Barcelona's 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, his coach Luis Enrique said.

Making his first start in a month after recovering from a groin injury, Messi set the tone for another virtuoso performance with a storming run through the middle of City's half before calmly dribbling past Claudio Bravo to score.

The floodgates opened once former Barca goalkeeper Bravo was sent off for handling outside the area and Messi toyed with City's defence to smash the ball past compatriot Willy Caballero.