Brendan Rodgers: Missed penalty was turning point in match for tiring Celtic

Messi blasted home a powerful left-footer after just three minutes to give the home side an ideal start in their first group match, following a pass from strike partner Neymar, before the Brazilian fed the Argentine global again to make it 2-0 shortly before the half hour mark.

If that strike was good then Iniesta's volley from Neymar's cross was remarkable in its execution.

Messi still trails Cristiano Ronaldo by seven goals in Europe's premier club competition but Barcelona manager Enrique thinks he is in a class of his own.

"We knew the next goal after half-time was going to be important".

The 7-0 victory surpassed Barcelona's biggest win in the Champions League to date, a 7-1 defeat of Bayer Lever- kusen in 2012.

- Barcelona have scored 13 goals in their last two Champions League contests with Celtic and have netted in all nine of their previous matches to date. The biggest compliment that you could give Luis is that he came to an already world-class team and he made them better. "Not just because of his numbers, but for his vision of the game".

Meanwhile, it is was a much-needed win for the Barcelona to return from the shameless defeat in the last match against 2-1 defeat to Alaves.

He said: "They're entitled to score goals, they're a great team, but we should do better than that".

"It's a front three that really can occupy as many players as you want".

"There have been a lot of games where we haven't been together - we've been on holiday, Neymar was at the Olympics", he told TV3.

Barcelona did make it 6-0 in the 75th minute, however, when Luis Suarez controlled a brilliant pass from Neymar before smashing the ball into the top corner to continue the humiliation for the Scottish giants. It hurts us as players.

It got even better from there.

Although the scoreline is undeniably bad, the identity of the scorers, who are four of the world's ten best players, does serve to soften the blow.

Dembele was Celtic's hat-trick hero in a 5-1 thrashing of Glasgow rivals Rangers on Saturday, but he failed to add to his burgeoning reputation as ter Stegen flew to his right to turn the Frenchman's penalty behind.

Goal No. 3 came in the 50th when Neymar curled a free kick over the wall. "All we can hope is that they keep scoring like that", added the Spaniard. In stunning style, Messi and Neymar exchanged passes inside a crowded box before the Argentina worldwide prodded in from point-blank range.