Barcelona’s Gerard Pique, right, celebrates with Lionel Messi, left and Luis Suarez after he scored his team’s 4th goal during the Group E Champions League soccer match between Barcelona and Roma at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2015. AP
BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi scored his first two goals after a two-month injury layoff and Luis Suarez netted a brace in a 6-1 rout of Roma on Tuesday as Barcelona advanced to the Champions League knockout rounds for a 12th consecutive season.
Suarez got Barcelona rolling at Camp Nou in the 15th minute. Three minutes later Messi scored his first goal in his second appearance since returning from a left-knee injury.
With Roma in disarray, Messi netted the hosts’ fifth after Suarez and Gerard Pique scored. Adriano capped the demolition before Edin Dzeko got Roma’s consolation.
Messi showed no rust from his time on the sideline recovering from a ligament he tore on Sept. 26. On Saturday, he played a little more than half an hour as a second-half substitute in Barcelona’s memorable 4-0 win at Real Madrid, looking threatening as ever despite not scoring.
Frighteningly enough for opponents, Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer said despite his strong return, he has yet to recover his peak form.
“It’s tough to get back up to full speed,” said Messi. “I prepared well and trained but it’s not the same as going out on the pitch and lasting 90 minutes. I will take it with calm and get my pace back.”
Barcelona had already qualified for the next phase before kickoff after Bayer Leverkusen was held 1-1 at BATE Borisov, but the victory moved the defending champions onto 13 points and the top spot in Group E with a game to spare.
Roma was left with five points along with Leverkusen, while BATE has four.
“Right now Barca is unstoppable, it’s not a coincidence that it beat Madrid 4-0,” said Roma coach Rudi Garcia. “For us the good news arrived before the match. The draw between Leverkusen and BATE keeps our options alive.”
Messi’s goals were his first in the Champions League this campaign (he has only made two appearance) and 78th and 79th in competition history, second only to Crisitano Ronaldo’s record of 83.
Suarez, meanwhile, continued his scoring streak with his ninth and tenth goals in his last six matches taking him up to 17 for the season.
Both Suarez and striker partner Neymar, who missed a late penalty, also excelled at playing a part in their team’s goals with their passing.
“We are in a sweet moment and hope to keep it going as long as possible,” said Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, whose team also leads the Spanish league. “I see my team very focused, with everyone motivated.”
Barcelona was soon in front after Neymar drifted back into midfield and sent forward a perfect pass to meet Dani Alves’ run from the flank. The right back only had to square the ball for the unmarked Suarez to steer it in.
Messi doubled the lead moments later after he finished off a series of one-touch passes before Suarez lobbed him the ball, leaving Messi to dink the ball over Szczesny.
Barcelona continued to dominate both possession and the initiative, and Suarez blasted a right-foot volley of a cleared ball that fell to him just inside the far post right before halftime.
With Roma still in disarray, Pique got on the scoresheet after Messi was played through by Suarez and passed for the defender to tap home in the 56th.
Suarez was again playmaker four minutes later after Neymar found him in the area to set up Messi, who finished off his own rebound for this second goal.
Neymar earned a penalty from Salih Ucan but had his spot kick saved by Szczesny, only for substitute Adriano to rush in a fire in the rebound in the 77th.
Dzeko also had a penalty saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 82nd after being fouled by Thomas Vermaelen but got the Italian side a consolation goal just before the final whistle.
RELATED STORIES
Madrid and Barcelona meet amid Messi doubts, security fears
Messi headbutt as tempers flare in Barca win