In late October a group of Barca players celebrated their win at Getafe by donning Halloween costumes and running around the stadium’s backrooms and were condemned for a supposed arrogant attitude towards their hosts.

And on this occasion they appeared hell-bent on making Getafe pay for what they felt was unwarranted criticism, delivering a determined and relentless masterclass in devastating football to tighten their grip on top spot with their 12th consecutive league win.

Although the goals were spread around, the chief tormentors were Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, drifting inside from the right and left flanks to wreak havoc.

The opener was crafted by Messi, whose beautiful pass allowed Jordi Alba to deliver a low cross which was deflected into his own net by Getafe’s Juan Rodriguez.

Messi then managed to miss yet another penalty, seeing his low shot saved by Vicente Guaita after Neymar had been fouled, but the second goal wasn’t long in coming as Iniesta and Messi combined to tee up Munir, replacing the rested Luis Suarez, for a simple header.

With Barca toying with the visitors, who barely escaped their own half, Gerard Pique hit the bar before Neymar added the third, running onto another pinpoint Messi pass.

The only thing missing as the interval approached was a goal from Messi, and he duly obliged with another memorable strike as he received a pass and turned to arrow an unstoppable 20-yard strike into the bottom-right corner.

The goal-fest continued in the early stages of the second half as Messi sliced open Getafe’s defence with another brilliant pass for Neymar to grab his second, and then it was six as Arda Turan recorded his first goal at the Nou Camp with an overhead kick from a corner.

Barca lost much of their penetration after Iniesta was substituted and Getafe even managed their first shot on target through Moi Gomez, before Neymar missed two late chances to complete his hat-trick.