Barcelona's Entire Strikeforce, Not Just Leo Messi, Prove Unstoppable at Bayern

Before this Champions League semi-final tie even began, Pep Guardiola described Lionel Messi as "unstoppable."

He was wrong. No, all three of his former side's attacking trident of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are an unstoppable force and proved it as they tore through Bayern Munich's defence and ripped apart their dreams of a Berlin final in the first half of the Germans' 3-2 win.

All three were involved in Barca's two goals, just as they were for the Catalans' third last week in a 3-0 victory that had Luis Enrique's men well on the road to Berlin before they even set foot in Bavaria.

Having scored twice at the Camp Nou, Barca's first goal epitomised Messi's new role as a deeper-lying playmaker as much as supreme goalscorer. The Argentine slipped in Suarez behind the Bayern defence, and he unselfishly squared for Neymar to roll into an empty net to register for the seventh game in a row.

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Guardiola had gotten away with an early gamble on matching up with three at the back against the South American stars last week, as Suarez passed up a simple early chance from a Messi knockdown.

However, the most successful coach in Barca's history wasn't so fortunate this time around, when an almost carbon-copy move put the tie beyond any doubt on the half hour.

Messi incredibly won another header from a long ball upfield from Marc-Andre ter Stegen to free Suarez, and the Uruguayan once again picked out Neymar, who controlled the ball on his chest before firing past the helpless Manuel Neuer.

Bayern Munich won this game at the Allianz Arena, but they were well and truly beaten over the two legs, and it's all thanks to that insatiable Barcelona strikeforce.

They have scored 25 of Barcelona's last 28 goals in the Champions League, a quite incredible total. 

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Before the game, Neymar spoke about how the striking trio have an affinity, a partnership that goes beyond the pitch. He said, per Sport: 

"

I think that the humility of the three players is the most important thing. As well being superstars, [Messi and Suarez] are also humble, and that is the key to the success.

...

We always like to be together. We have an affinity. When we meet up, we spoke about things outside of football.

...

We have a name that we use, but I can't say... it's not trident, but we do have a nickname.

"

There is certainly nothing selfish about the trio's work. Suarez laid on two goals for Neymar, and the Brazilian tried to set up Messi at the death. 

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Although Neymar's pass, when he could have gone for his hat-trick, didn't quite come off, there was something beautiful about his intention. 

Against Cordoba, in the 8-0 win, Messi turned down the chance to score a hat-trick and let Neymar take a penalty that he had been awarded. This pass from Neymar was his way of repaying it. 

Strikers should be selfish at the right times, but this trio have worked out that they will each score more goals if they are willing to set each other up when the opportunity exists. Egotism has no place in this front line, and therein lies the key to Barcelona's success in the second half of the season. 

Increasingly, they are making better and better decisions on the pitch. Whereas during the first half of the season they were all still working each other out, now they are all in synchronisation. 

Of course there is more to Barcelona than the strikeforce, but Messi, Neymar and Suarez are currently the envy of the world—and with good reason.