Despite Celtic Destruction, Barcelona and the MSN Are Just Warming Up

CAMP NOU, Barcelona — Brendan Rodgers’ team were murdered. It sounds brutal, but there are few other ways of describing what happened against Barcelona, and those are less pleasant still.

And yet the Northern Irishman was not broken as he spoke after the Champions League game. “No embarrassment,” he said. “They do this to other teams better than us.”

Celtic’s 7-0 defeat was their worst result in the competition’s history, taking over from the last time they visited the Camp Nou, when they lost 6-1 in December 2013.

This was also the biggest defeat inflicted on a former winner of the European Cup.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

"The pitch is fantastic, the ball moves like it's on an ice rink," continued Rodgers. "It goes so fast, and they move as fast as that. Tonight’s one of the tough nights you have to take."

Many teams have visited the Camp Nou and been forced to suffer a similar fate. The last manager from the United Kingdom to come to the Catalan capital left after an identical result—Gary Neville’s Valencia were annihilated 7-0 in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg last season.

Barcelona will hit a team for double figures this season. That could—and perhaps should—have happened on Tuesday, if three more of the excess of chances they created had flown in, instead of against the upright, for example, like Lionel Messi’s low raking drive.

Luis Enrique made eight changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Alaves on Saturday night, bringing back his big guns.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

Messi and Luis Suarez were on the bench in that game and both started against Celtic, along with the first-choice defence and goalkeeper.

The coach had rotated too heavily for the Alaves clash, and Barcelona paid the price. However, the upside was that the team was fresh to face the Scottish champions, who keenly felt what a few days' rest could do for the Catalans’ game.

Barcelona were always likely to run out big winners here, and it raises the question: Why did Luis Enrique pick such a weak team against Alaves and such a strong one against Celtic? It would have been more prudent to split the rotation over these two games.

Perhaps they wouldn’t have beaten Celtic by as many goals, but equally, they may not have dropped points at home in a soft fixture. It is a long season and points will be dropped further down the line, too, but these were cheap ones to concede.

It hints at a truth behind the expectation that this season the competition they would like to win most is the Champions League, having seen Real Madrid take it out of their hands last year. That would explain the insistence on playing such a powerful team against Celtic.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

But what’s done is done, and after such an emphatic victory, it would only be fair to focus on the many positives for Barcelona—although there are two other points to note first.

Jasper Cillessen was dropped for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who returned from a hamstring issue remarkably quickly after he was initially expected to miss two weeks after picking it up on Friday.

The German received his medical clearance to play on Tuesday morning, and a few hours later, he was facing Celtic. Surely Cillessen, who replaced Claudio Bravo, was bought for games like these, so as not to risk Ter Stegen after his injury?

Also, with rotation such a big issue for Luis Enrique against Alaves, it was strange not to see him use his third substitution against Celtic. With the game sewn up shortly after half-time, it would have been a good time to utilise Paco Alcacer and give the former Valencia striker a good chance of opening his account in Blaugrana.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

It was also no surprise to see Andre Gomes look so comfortable in the team, despite filling Andres Iniesta’s shoes in the first half, because he was surrounded by quality. This is a good way to blood a new player, allowing him to feel the vibe and the dynamic that the first team needs and knows how to play with.

This was the first time since the Copa del Rey final in May that Barcelona’s South American trident started up front for the club—and unlucky Celtic felt the full force.

The least impressive of the MSN trio was Suarez, and he still ended up with two goals and an assist.

“They’re very special players,” said Rodgers of the attacking line. “I had great fortune to work with one and Luis’ movement and aggression was at the top level, and the other two are special players.

“They are a front three that can occupy as many players as you want. We had five in the back line, but their movement, speed and touch, combined with the other quality players [overwhelmed us].”

In the first half, Suarez hounded Celtic’s defence while his team-mates took the limelight, but by the end they repaid the favour as first Neymar and then Messi set up goals for the Uruguayan.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

His first was brilliantly taken, controlling Neymar’s chipped through ball on his chest, swivelling with the ball in the air, before planting his volley into the top-left corner. The second was simple but clinical, a poacher’s finish as Messi stabbed the ball across goal.

Suarez had played a similar pass for Messi to complete his hat-trick in the 60th minute, after he had blasted Barcelona in front in the third minute when Neymar slipped him in. He notched the second at the conclusion of a brilliant passing move with his fellow blond bombshell.

Neymar was at his sizzling best, creating four goals for team-mates and scoring a free-kick himself. The highlight of the night was a waltzing duet with Messi, with the pair exchanging one-twos as they reached the box and the Brazilian finally teeing up the Argentinian to run it over the goal line.

Luis Enrique was in pleasant and amiable form in his post-match press conference—perhaps only wins of seven or more goals sate his lust for blood—and waxed lyrical over his side, particularly Messi, whose goals amounted to the 40th hat-trick of his career.

“If [Messi] plays as a No. 9, a No. 8 or a No. 6, he’s the best No. 9, No. 8 or No. 6 in the world," the coach said. "He can judge the perfect pass from 40 yards and put the ball wherever he wants. For me, he’s the best player of all time."

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

This Barcelona have barely warmed up either. It took until after Christmas last season for the team to start playing with as much momentum, verve and quality as this, with the highlight being their 6-1 trouncing of Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou on February 14.

That’s another reason the coach was purring during his usually begrudged time spent with the press after a game. Barcelona raised the bar last season—even if they could not defend their treble—and it already seems possible for them to do the same again this year.

Playing with such style and joy does not necessarily equal success, but it makes the heart sing and the eyes boggle. And the legs throw the viewer to their feet, involuntarily.  

If sport is entertainment, then that is some degree of success already. And if any team has proved aesthetically enthralling football and winning trophies aren’t mutually exclusive, it is this Barcelona side.

Rik Sharma is Bleacher Report's lead Barcelona correspondent. All information and quotes obtained firsthand unless specified. Follow him on Twitter here: @riksharma_.