Messi became the first player to score three goals in a game for the sixth time in Europe’s top competition, as he inspired the home side to a 7-0 win over the Scottish champions at Camp Nou.
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Neymar, Luis Suarez’s brace and Andres Iniesta’s thumping volley completed the rout as Barca sealed their biggest-ever win in Europe and inflicted the largest Champions League defeat on a former victor of the competition. Before Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko gave away the ball to Lionel Messi, who duly obliged.
Substitute Andres Iniesta then powered in a fourth before Messi got his third of the evening a mere 60 seconds later when he tapped in Suarez’ cut back.
Champions League records, once believed to be impossible to attain, have kept stumbling after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo took to the pitch.
“We’ve got to be a lot more compact and braver on the ball as well”.
“I know Barcelona are a great team and they’re going to press you”.
“No team likes to lose like that but this won’t hamper us in any way”.
Leganes were 2-1 losers at Sporting Gijon last weekend, their first defeat since gaining promotion to Spain’s top flight.
The hosts quickly asserted themselves as Neymar slid the ball into Messi’s path following a short corner and the Argentine took a touch in the area before scoring.
The visitors could have levelled in the 24th when Ter Stegen brought down Dembele but then made amends by saving his weak spot kick.
The German global has now saved three out of four penalties in the Champions League for Barca.
Messi’s second came after he and Neymar combined to bamboozle the Celtic defence, Messi walking it in for number two.
“He plays with complete freedom to change his position as he wants”.
In Group A, French champion Paris Saint-Germain was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Arsenal despite dominating for large parts of the game.
The other game in Group C between Manchester City and German side Borussia Monchengladbach was called off on Tuesday, due to heavy thunderstorms in Manchester.
A 5-0 drubbing was begun by Robert Lewandowski’s penalty and Thomas Mueller’s shot in the first half.
Suarez got his second from a low cross from Messi.
The Spanish champions were fined 150,000 euros ($170,000) by UEFA because of the flags during last season’s competition.
“Our home games will be very important, where our supporters genuinely create an extra man for us”. “On Saturday he was a big hero with his hat-trick and on Tuesday. well”.
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The other group game between Basel and Ludogorets also ended 1-1, with Renato Steffen cancelling out the Bulgarians’ lead from Jonathan Cafu with 10 minutes left.
