Messi, Barcelona continue to entertain with 6-1 rout of Roma (Video)
Oh, it was just Barcelona doing Barcelona things. You know, merely your average 6-1 destruction of one of Italy's strongest teams, AS Roma, three days after the humdrum 4-0 emasculation of upstarts Real Madrid.
Lionel Messi, who would score twice, was disallowed a goal early, and perhaps wrongly, for offside. The newly healthy Argentine whiz then knocked an open look wide. At the other end, Roma's Edin Dezko missed an inviting chance.
And then the game kind of ended in a hurry.
Neymar picked out Dani Alves's foraging run up the right with a long diagonal ball in the 15th minute, and the right back only needed to square to Luis Suarez for the opening goal.
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GOAL, Barcelona! Neymar threads the needle, and Suarez finishes to give the hosts the 1-0 lead. @HeinekenSoccer #UCL https://t.co/gtW3A5RfyR
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 24, 2015
Two minutes later, Barca scored what might be remembered as one of the all-time great team goals. Neymar hit Suarez, who set Messi free for him to score with a little chip.
GOAL, Barcelona! Messi defly chips the keeper, and doubles the lead for the hosts. 2-0. @HeinekenSoccer #UCL https://t.co/QAaXeBRZAj
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 24, 2015
But it was the buildup that made it special. That play consisted of 27 consecutive passes and every single Barca player touched the ball.
Every #FCB player had a touch in the buildup to the 2nd goal, scored by #Messi. 29' #FCB 2–0 ROM #FCBLive #FCBvRoma pic.twitter.com/zjmIcWmgon
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 24, 2015
Messi then sent Neymar through into a totally open field with a superb flick, but he too was dubiously called offside.
All the same, Barcelona put a third goal on the board before halftime.
Neymar made a fool of one of Europe's best midfielders, Miralem Pjanic, who was unwisely trying to mark him. Having opened up some space, the Brazilian, who was one of the game's standouts, whipped in a cross that was cleared but looped up to Suarez. The Uruguayan didn't hesitate and lashed a volley through traffic and into the far corner of goal.
What a goal! Suarez grabs his second of the game with a sweet volley. 3-0. @HeinekenSoccer #UCL https://t.co/mNbfKpLBlJ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 24, 2015
Then, in the second half, Suarez flicked Neymar's pass over the back line and into Messi's path, who squared for an easy Gerard Pique tap-in. Yes, even the central defender, who had backheeled a ball on the opposing box earlier, was getting in on the fun.
Another wonderful build-up from Barcelona, and Pique is on the end of it. @HeinekenSoccer #UCL WATCH: https://t.co/0b3L4JwpR2
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 24, 2015
Messi then got his second on a tap-in, after his initial shot was parried.
GOAL, Barcelona! Messi scores his second and Barcelona's fifth goal vs Roma. 5-0. @HeinekenSoccer #UCL https://t.co/iuE5klpVLy
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 24, 2015
Finally and mercifully, Barca concluded its scoring bender when Neymar was taken down – after Suarez was denied a credible penalty – and took his own spot kick. He missed, but his Brazilian countryman Adriano smashed the rebound into the top corner.
Gif: Goal Adriano (6-0) #fcblive [via @emenderk] pic.twitter.com/acKowxjG90
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) November 24, 2015
A few minutes from the end, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen saved Dzeko’s penalty, after he was brought down by Thomas Vermaelen. Because Barca doesn’t know how to play nice. Dzeko eventually did manage to score on a header in stoppage time, though.
That may have provided the Romans with some consolation because the final score actually flattered their loss.
Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.