Magical Messi leads Barca rout of Juventus

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Juventus’ Douglas Costa and Blaise Matuidi REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) - A mesmeric Lionel Messi scored twice as he inspired Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Juventus to get off to a flying start in Champions League Group D on Tuesday avenging last season’s quarter-final elimination by the Italian champions.

Messi broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime by playing a slick one-two off Luis Suarez and arrowing the ball beyond Gianluigi Buffon, finally getting the better of the veteran Italian in his fourth game against him.

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal as Nelson Semedo looks on REUTERS/Albert Gea

The Argentine was also the catalyst for the second goal, forcing Juve to scramble the ball off the line and allowing Ivan Rakitic to shoot into an empty net in the 56th minute and add to his strike against Juve in the 2015 final.

But Messi was far from done. For his second and Barca's third he received a pass from Andres Iniesta and ripped more holes in a depleted Juventus defence before lashing beyond a dejected Buffon, scoring his seventh goal in three games.

Juventus, who were missing five key players including defensive warrior Giorgio Chiellini, looked a shadow of the team that beat Barca 3-0 on aggregate last season to reach the final, and have conceded seven goals in their last two games in the competition over two seasons.

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal with Luis Suarez (L) and Ousmane Dembele (R) REUTERS/Susana Vera

Like Barca, Juve arrived at the game with three wins from three in the domestic league and with their own Argentine Paulo Dybala also in electric form with five goals in three games.

But their long list of absences, which also included Mario Mandzukic, Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira, proved costly.

Miralem Pjanic did manage to trouble Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the first half but the Spaniards, who have been facing instability off the pitch but look fresh and confident on it under new coach Ernesto Valverde, did most of the talking.

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Juventus’ Douglas Costa in action with Barcelona’s Nelson Semedo REUTERS/Albert Gea

Messi gave the Italians nightmares from the word go, but captain Andres Iniesta was also in electric form, while record signing Ousmane Dembele had an impressive full debut, making for a party atmosphere at the Nou Camp to accompany the show put on by their relentless Argentine talisman.

"When we play at this speed it's very difficult to play against us," Rakitic told reporters.

"Barca don't change coaches very often but now we have new ideas and we're very happy with how things are going."

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi shoots at goal from a free kick REUTERS/Albert Gea

(Reporting by Richard Martin; editing by Rex Gowar)

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Juventus’ Douglas Costa in action with Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto (L) REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Juventus’ Andrea Barzagli is shown a yellow card by referee Damir Skomina REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal with team mates REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Juventus’ Blaise Matuidi in action with Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi takes a free kick REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Juventus’ Paulo Dybala in action REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon looks dejected after Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scored their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi wears the captain's and a Catalan arm band REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta gives the captain's arm band to Lionel Messi as he is substituted off REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal with Jordi Alba REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic in action with Juventus’ Paulo Dybala REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona fans wave Catalonia flags REUTERS/Susana Vera

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona vs Juventus - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 12, 2017 Barcelona and Juventus players line up before the match REUTERS/Susana Vera