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Barcelona players celebrating after thrashing Roma in their fifth group stage matchRelentless Barcelona celebrated their round of 16 qualification in style as they hammered a hapless AS Roma 6-1 at the Camp Nou on a night that saw talisman Lionel Messi return to scoring ways after a gap of 2 months.The Argentine wizard initially had a goal wrongly disallowed but made up for it with a neat chip from close range after Luis Suarez had opened the scoring just minutes earlier. The strapping Uruguayan had effectively put the tie to bed with an absolute belter of a shot just before halftime to make it 3-0, but there was more to come after the break.An unmarked Gerard Pique tapped home a fourth early in the second half before Messi bagged his brace from a rebound. Neymar, who played more of a creator than a goal threat, then gained a chance to follow suit after he won a penalty but saw his effort saved by Wojciech Szczesny. However, Adriano made it six from the follow-up.The visitors won a penalty of their own just minutes later, but Edin Dzeko failed to beat a robust Ter Stegen. The Bosnian, though, did manage to find some consolation in the end as a he headed home for the visitors deep in the extra time.A majestic Barcelona cruised to another emphatic win after the weekend’s Clasico drubbing, and on current form, appear well placed to retain their crown. Here are the five talking points from the game.
#1 The return of Lionel Messi
After spending nearly 2 months on the sideline through injury, Barcelona ace Lionel Messi made his return to the field in the 4-0 defeat of Real Madrid last weekend in the final half an hour. While he couldn’t meet the target in that game, he made sure he got back on the scoresheet soon after he bagged a brilliant brace against the Romans.
The diminutive maestro flew out of the traps early in the game, and after seeing his opening goal wrongly disallowed for offside, covered it up with an audacious chip over Szczesny just a few minutes later after a well-worked move. The goal sent ripples across the Camp Nou as Messi struck for the first time in eight weeks, but he had more in store for the thronging faithfuls.
In the second half, Messi beat an offside trap by Roma to latch on to Suarez’s flick, and after getting his initial shot saved, pounced on the rebound for his second on the night.
Messi has well and truly announced his return to the world stage, and that’s enough to send a chill down other team’s spine.
#2 Suarez the best no. 9 currently ?
With Cristiano Ronaldo trawling through a rough patch, Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has emerged to be a greater No. 9 this season. Although the likes of Robert Lewandowski and James Vardy have set Europe alight with their impressive scoring prowess, do they come close to the former Liverpool hitman? Possibly no.
The Uruguayan Man O Phwoar had stepped up to the plate during Messis long lay-off alongside Neymar. With 13 goals in all competitions during Messis absence, including a pair of magnificent strikes against Real Madrid last weekend, Suarez followed it up with yet another bout of goals.
He grabbed his first after Dani Alves found him unmarked from the edge of the area, and opened the floodgates with a cool finish into the far post. After a few close calls later into the first half,he struck his second with a left-footed howitzer 20 yards out, a strike that encapsulated the brilliance of Suarez.
The 29-year-old has had a great year with Barcelona, and although it still may not be enough to win him the Ballon dOr, it matters little to him as hes just enjoying what hes doing.
#3 Ronaldo\'s position under threat from Neymar
Barcelona starlet Neymar has hit a purple patch this season as well, scoring goals left, right and centre. Having played a crucial role in the treble success last season, the Brazilian dynamite has been in a rich vein of form for the Catalans this term and had made light of the absence of Messi when he, along with Suarez, kept the net rippling for Blaugrana.
Now leading the scoring charts in La Liga with 13 strikes and far ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, the question arises, has he overtaken the Portuguese star as one of the two world’s best? Stats and his fine form suggest that it isn’t hard to say no.
With the periscope pointing downwards for the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, stars are shining on Neymar on the other hand. The 23-year-old has been one of the outstanding performers of the year and has clearly been the better one in comparison to Ronaldo in the second half of 2015.
There’s little doubt that someday he might just hold aloft the Golden Ball in a gala in Zurich. But even before THAT time comes, Ronaldo may even see his position in the top two lose out to Neymar if things continue to pan this way.
#4 Roma still way off from European elite
They may be the best challengers for the Serie A title this season, but are still some way off from the Europe’s elite. With Juventus falling well off the mark this season, the likes of Inter Milan and Fiorentina appear to be the early season contenders. However, in the long run, it’s only AS Roma who can sustain an assault on the Scudetto. That’s it. Nothing further than that.
In Europe, though, La Maggica appear more like fish out of water. Last season, they were beaten by Manchester City at home and were battered from pillar to post by Bayern Munich in the 7-1 rout.
This year, it was Barcelona who inflicted a soul-crushing defeat on the ‘seocnd best team of Italy’. This just highlights the chasm between them and the rest of Europe’s bigwigs.
A win over BATE Borisov at home on final matchday will see them through to the next round irrespective of what happens between Bayer Leverkusen and the Catalans, but there, another European heavyweight is waiting to sign their death knell.
#5 Barcelona untouchable at the moment
Following a sluggish start to the new campaign, Barcelona have certainly shifted gears and are currently moving at a pace that is virtually unparallel. Thanks in no small part to their stellar attacking triumvirate, the Catalans are becoming the ones to beat this term.
The defending champions have once again conjured the form that catapulted them to a treble of trophies last season and appear well poised to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy, if only they continue in the same vein.
Much like in the game against Real Madrid, the red and blues dominated the game right from the off and had killed the tie within the first 45 minutes of the game itself. With some slick passing, clever movements and electrifying pace, the hosts totally outplayed and outclassed the visitors who barely had an answer.
With their defence – water tight, midfield – unplayable, and attack – absolutely prolific, Barcelona are literally in a league of their own right now. Although Bayern Munich, too, are blowing teams out of water on the other side, they still cannot match the Spanish behemoths. They are simply untouchable at the moment.
