Luis Suárez said Barcelona had played “the perfect game” after they thrashed Roma 6-1 on a breathtaking Champions League night at the Camp Nou.
Suárez and the fit-again Lionel Messi each netted twice, with Gerard Piqué and Adriano also on the scoresheet before Edin Dzeko netted a consolation goal in stoppage time for the Italian side.
“Each player goes out to try and do what is asked of him,” Suárez said. “We played a perfect game,” “Leo, Neymar and myself are team players and we look to help the team. Messi is the best in the world and I am very happy for him to have scored and played the full match.”
The win secured Barcelona top spot in Group E, and Luis Enrique said the key to his side’s success is the way they pressurise their opponents as a team. “It is not easy to keep pressuring but this is what we are good at as a group and it is the key,” said the Barça coach. “Messi has fitted back into the side, I saw Suárez pressuring after 92 minutes, Neymar pressuring and it is the same as we have been playing before. All the team attacking and defending as a line.”
Messi began his first game since picking up a knee ligament injury in September and looked hungry to get back among the goals. Both of his strikes were set up by Suárez and Luis Enrique singled out the Uruguayan for praise. “He looks as though he has been playing for years at Barcelona and he is able to have a lot of influence with his work,” he said.
“He is like a talisman because he brings so much positivity and intensity to our play and he is crucial when you consider, on top of that, his quality.”
Roma are left on five points along with Bayer Leverkusen, while Bate Borisov have four after they drew 1-1 with the Germans. Roma’s coach, Rudi García, said: “Right now Barça are unstoppable, it’s not a coincidence that they beat Madrid 4-0. For us the good news arrived before the match. The draw between Leverkusen and Bate keeps our options alive.”
