BARCELONA: A Lionel Messi hat-trick highlighted a dominant 8-0 victory for FC Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against Raja Club Athletic of Morocco in Tangiers.      

Chilean international Alexis Sanchez also scored a brace Saturday, before Dani Alves, Gerard Deulofeu and Sergi Gomez added second-half goals for the visitors.

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova rested Spanish Euro 2012 winners, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Pedro Rodriguez and Gerard Pique, while captain Carles Puyol and striker David Villa are still to return from injury.

Barca’s next pre-season outing is against France’s PSG in Paris on Saturday, before playing Manchester United in Sweden on Aug 8.