European Champions League

Barcelona 6 – Roma 1

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Piqué (Marc Bartra 56’), Vermaelen, Jordi Alba; Sergi Roberto (Adriano 64‘), Busquets (Sergi Samper 46‘), Rakitic; Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar. 4-3-3.
Roma: Sczesny; Maicon, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Pjanic (Salih Ucan 75’), Keita, Nainggolan (Iturbe 46’); Florenzi (Vainquer 58’), Dzeko, Iago Falqué. 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Luis Suárez. Ran ball into net after Alves played across Neymar pass.
2-0. 18. Messi. Picked up Suárez lofted pass and chipped shot across keeper.
3-0. 44. Luis Suárez. First time volley after Keita headed away Neymar centre.
4-0. 55. Piqué. Got on the end of Messi cross to turn ball in from close to goal.
5-0. 60. Messi. Beat keeper at second attempt after Neymar and Suárez combined.
6-0. 77. Adriano. Drove shot into roof of net after Sczesny saved Neymar penalty.
6-1. 91. Dzeko. Got between markers to head Digne cross down past Ter Stegen.

Barcelona made sure of top spot in their group after a resounding 6-1 victory over Roma on Tuesday night. A draw between BATE Borisov and Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the evening meant that Luis Enrique’s side were already sure of a place in the knock-out stage, but the coach still put out a strong line-up, with Messi in the starting eleven after coming on as substitute in Saturday’s victory at Real Madrid. With the game only minutes old, Neymar had a strike ruled out for a questionable offside, and Messi fired a shot wide before Dani Alves collected a pinpoint Neymar pass to set up Luis Suárez for the opener. Dzeko had headed an easy chance over the top just before that, but soon afterwards a brilliant passing move ended with Messi chipping the second past Sczesny, and with half time looming Suárez volleyed home a spectacular third after Keita headed clear another Neymar centre. After the restart the visiting keeper had to make saves from Messi and Neymar, and Ter Stegen saved from ex Barça B winger Iago Falqué at the other end. A minute later however Piqué got on the end of Messi’s cross to make it four, and with an hour gone Messi got the fifth, running the ball into the net after Sczesny pushed out his previous shot. Neymar himself had a chance to get in on the act when Ucan brought him down in the area, and although Sczesny saved his spot kick, Adriano was on hand to drive the rebound back into the net. With ten minutes to go it was Ter Stegen’s turn to save a Dzeko penalty after Vermaelen fouled the ex Manchester City man in the area, but the striker did finally get his reward when he headed a Diagne cross past the keeper in the dying seconds.