BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi helped Barcelona create Champions League history Wednesday, scoring five goals to lead the Catalans past Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 in the second leg and 10-2 on aggregate.
The aggregate score is the biggest margin of victory in the knockout round of the current Champions League format, putting an exclamation point at the end of a sensational night for Messi and his team.
The tie was virtually wrapped up before the opening whistle, but that did not stop the Argentine from handing the German side a humiliating defeat at Camp Nou.
Messi grabbed two goals by halftime, scoring in the 25th and 42nd minutes.
The first came as a result of some direct play as Messi latched onto a ball played over the top of Leverkusen’s defense. The Argentine collected possession before chipping a shot over goalkeeper Bernd Leno and into the back of the net.
Messi extended the lead just before the break, dancing inside the Leverkusen box and curling a left-footed shot just inside the post.
Barcelona then exploded for four second-half goals in the span of 12 minutes as Messi and Cristian Tello alternated scoring strikes.
Messi grabbed the third of the night with a virtual carbon copy of the opener. Cesc Fabregas played a ball over the top and a well-timed run by the Argentine unlocked the Leverkusen defense. Messi controlled the ball with a brilliant first touch before finding the back of the net with a chip over Leno.
Tello then entered the match for Andres Iniesta and made an immediate impact, collecting the ball on the left side of the Leverkusen box and slipping a shot past Leno in the 55th minute.
Messi responded three minutes later following a save from Leno. The German ‘stopper conceded a rebound and the Argentine was there to stuff it home.
Tello grabbed the second Champions League goal of his career in the 62nd minute. The 20-year-old ghosted into the box unmarked, collected a pass from Dani Alves, and slipped a quick shot past Leno for the sixth Barcelona goal of the night. Leno got a hand to the shot but was unable to keep it out.
Messi added insult to injury five minutes from time with a similar finish to his second goal of the night. He dribbled inside and curled a left-footed shot just inside the post, completing the rout and capping a stunning night for the Barcelona talisman.
Bayer Leverkusen pulled back a consolation goal in stoppage time as Karim Bellarabi curled a brilliant shot past Victor Valdes after a quick one-two in the box.
