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Messi back, Barca thrash Roma

Xinhua, November 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Leo Messi confirmed his return from injury with two goals and an assist as FC Barcelona assured they will qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League as winners of their group after a crushing 6-1 win at home to Roma.

Following on from their crushing win over Real Madrid at the weekend, Luis Enrique made three changes to his starting 11 in the Santiago Bernabeu with Leo Messi, Thomas Vermaelan and Ter Stegen coming into the side for Javier Mascherano, Claudio Bravo and Andres Iniesta.

Some of the faces may have changed, but the performance was similar as Barca's pressure asphyxiated Roma's attempts to play the ball from defense, setting up attack after attack for Luis Enrique's men.

Luis Suarez continued his golden run of form when he opened the scoring with a tap-in after 15 minutes after Neymar and Dani Alves had set him up from close range.

Barca were controlling over 75 percent of the ball and Messi scored his first goal after coming back from injury when he beat Roma keeper Wojciech Szcehney with a smart chip after good work from Suarez.

Suarez added a third before the break with a spectacular volley into the far corner of the Roma net after former Barca midfielder Seydou Keita failed to clear a cross from the left.

Stegen did well to save from Dzeko early in the second half, moments before Gerard Piuque scored Barca's fourth and Messi netted his second of the night with a close range finish after Suarez's original shot was saved.

Neymar delighted the fans with two magnificent moments of skill, but missed the chance to score Barca's sixth after his penalty was well saved by Szcehney only for Adriano to ram home the rebound.

Edin Dzeko then saw a penalty saved by Stegen, although he did score a header with the last act of the game, although that did nothing to disguise Barca's complete dominance.

Earlier in the day Valencia complicated their qualification changes when they were beaten 2-0 away to Zenit St Petersburg and their place in the next round will depend on the result they get at home to Olympique Lyon. Endit