Three for Messi as Celtic humbled
TWO peroxide-blond assassins proved fatal for Celtic as they suffered their worst ever defeat in european competition in their Champions League opener at the nou Camp. Barcelona strikers Lionel Messi and neymar, both sporting bleached locks, plundered four goals between them — including a hat-trick for the Argentine — as the Scottish champions crumbled at the home of the five-time european Cup winners. Moussa Dembele missed a penalty for Celtic midway through the first half when they were only a goal down. But in truth the visitors were on the back foot from the first whistle, with an Andres Iniesta volley and Luis Suarez brace adding to the humiliation. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, whose side beat Rangers 5-1 at the weekend, claimed his team had played Barcelona at the wrong time, with the Catalan giants hurting after their La Liga defeat by Alaves on Saturday. ‘It’s always going to be really, really tough in your next game to probably the best possession team in the world,’ he said. ‘We went 1-0 down very early and then got a great chance and I think if you get the penalty and get it to 1-1 then it makes it a little bit nervy, especially after them losing at the weekend. The game at the weekend added to the immense quality they have in their game and it obviously becomes very difficult and then the scoreline by the end is bitterly disappointing.’ Messi lashed home on three minutes before Celtic were awarded a penalty after Marc-Andre ter Stegen hauled down Dembele, only for the striker to see his effort saved. Messi poked in a second after a series of one-twos with neymar, who scored from a free-kick after the interval. Iniesta fired in a volley for four, before Messi tapped home for his hat-trick. Suarez crashed in a volley from neymar’s pass before Messi set up the Uruguayan for the seventh.