Barca rolls past Arsenal with ease
Messie, Suarez, Neymark guide side to quarter-finals
BARCELONA, SPAIN— Barcelona’s big three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all scored to beat Arsenal 3-1 on Wednesday, sending the defending champions into the Champions League quarter-finals for a ninth consecutive season with a 5-1 victory on aggregate.
Leading the tie after Messi scored both goals in a 2-0 first leg win, Suarez passed for Neymar to open the scoring in the 18th minute.
Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny struck in the 51st, and the English side threatened to add another before Suarez answered with an acrobatic goal in the 65th.
Messi chipped in Barcelona’s third with two minutes to play following a pair of timely stops by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to protect the lead.
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said Barcelona’s trio took the game to the level of “art.”
“We played against the team with the best strikers I have seen,” Wenger said. “The three together are exceptional. Messi is incredible. They are two or three players who transform normal life into art.”
Barcelona increased its Spanish record streak to 38 unbeaten games, and stayed on course to repeat the treble of European Cup, Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles.
In the other Round of 16 second leg match, Thomas Mueller equalized in the first minute of injury time and Bayern Munich scored two more goals in extra time to rally for a 4-2 victory over Juventus on the night, winning 6-4 on aggregate.
While Barcelona’s march toward a season end that promises more silverware, Wenger has seen his side exit two of three competitions.
Arsenal bowed out of the FA Cup last weekend and now must focus on catching Tottenham and leader Leicester in the English Premier League standings.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez teamed up to put Barcelona into Friday’s draw for the quarter-finals, taking the three’s combined tally to 106 goals this season.