An inspired Lionel Messi netted two superb goals, had a penalty saved and twice rattled the woodwork as Barcelona romped to a 5-1 comeback victory over Panathinaikos in Champions League Group D on Tuesday. The World Player of the Year picked up where he left off in last year's edition of Europe's elite club competition, when he was the top scorer, pulling Barca level after the Greek champions had taken a shock 20th-minute lead and running the visiting defence ragged.
His second goal came after a brilliant passing move that typified Barca's electric playing style and he created their fifth of the night for defender Daniel Alves with a sublime chip that left the hapless Panathinaikos players rooted to the spot.
David Villa and Pedro completed the rout, Pedro's goal coming after Messi's shot from an acute angle bounced back off the far post, ricocheted off the other upright and fell perfectly for the Spain forward to tap across the line. The 23-year-old Argentine's performance, showcasing the full range of his talent, recalled his four-goal destruction of Arsenal at the same Nou Camp arena last season.
"He is the best player in the world by some distance from the rest," coach Pep Guardiola said at a news conference. "It hurts him to miss and he has this amateur spirit of always wanting to play. Barca were smarting from a shock La Liga defeat to Hercules at the weekend and came out with guns blazing at a packed stadium, Messi testing Panathinaikos keeper Alexandros Tzorvas with an acrobatic header in the third minute.
The home side were on cruise control but failed to convert a slew of chances and were stunned on 20 minutes when the visitors scored on their first foray upfield. Barca's other two Group D rivals are Rubin Kazan of Russia and Danish side FC Copenhagen and they next play in Kazan on September 29. Copenhagen beat Rubin 1-0 on Tuesday.
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