Published on 12:00 AM, December 23, 2016

Barca hammer Hercules

Barcelona's Turkish midfielder Arda Turan (R) celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) round of 32 second leg football match FC Barcelona vs Hercules CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 21, 2016. Photo: AFP

Turkey international Arda Turan scored a hat-trick as holders Barcelona thrashed third-division side Hercules 7-0 in the second leg of their Copa del Rey last-32 tie.

Turan struck his second hat-trick in as many weeks as Barca eased into the last 16 following an 8-1 aggregate win.

Luis Enrique rested his formidable front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar but the floodgates opened once Lucas Digne broke the deadlock on 37 minutes at the Camp Nou.