Lionel Messi stole the show as Barcelona performed a Champions League vivisection on Chelsea to secure safe passage into the quarter-finals.
After the first leg finished 1-1 at Stamford Bridge, it took Barca – well, Messi – less than three minutes to seize the aggregate lead at the Camp Nou as the Argentinian found that big ol’ gap between Thibaut Courtois’ legs at the near post…
Messi then turned provider for Barca’s second of the night, punishing some dawdling Chelsea midfield play by streaking away from two defenders before playing a perfect square lay-off to Ousmane Dembele.
The 20-year-old French international then capped off the counter with his first goal for Barca, powering an emphatic finish past Courtois…
Regardless of the ever-growing deficit between the two sides, Antonio Conte’s side gave a decent account of themselves and managed to forge a smattering of chances, but alas the narrative for the night had already been set.
It took until the 63rd minute for Messi to finally equal the ‘goals scored against Chelsea’ tally of luminaries such as Titus Bramble with yet another embarrassing nutmeg…
That also happened to be Messi’s 100th goal in the Champions League, which we guess is also a fair old achievement – especially when you consider it only took him 123 appearances and just 524 shots to get there.
By comparison, it took Cristiano Ronaldo a whopping 790 shots (and 14 more games) to reach his 100. That’s what blasting every single freekick you ever take, shin-height into the wall will do to your stats.
The greatest. There can be no doubt.