Barcelona thrashed naive Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 on Wednesday in an open and eventful European Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The result leaves Barca well placed to reach the semi-finals for the fourth straight year for an almost certain meeting with historic rivals Real Madrid, who on Tuesday trounced Tottenham 4-0.
"This is a good result and we worked really hard for it. It was an enjoyable game for us. But I'm sure the second leg will not be easy at all," said Dani Alves, who scored Barca's second.
Donetsk striker Douglas Costa said: "We let in goals too easily, and we should have scored more ourselves. We made too many mistakes tonight."
Barca didn't play particularly well and looked shaky in defence, but they punished every mistake that naive Donetsk made at the back. The Ukranians created almost as many chances as Barca, but were absurdly imprecise in both penalty areas.
The hosts made a perfect start with a goal from Andres Iniesta after just two minutes, slotting the ball home at the near post after slipping past two defenders.
Donetsk's Brazilian quartet then created a string of chances but lacked the composure to convert any of them, to the relief of the Camp Nou.
The visitors were punished for their generosity in the 34th minute when Alves made it 2-0. The Brazilian right-back took a perfect high ball from Iniesta and skipped around slow goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov before scoring.
In the 53rd minute, Xavi played a clever low corner for Gerard Pique and the defender's shot was deflected past Pyatov by Yaroslav Rakitskiy to make it 3-0.
Rakitskiy then made amends by flicking in a near-post free-kick from Darijo Srna to score what at the time looked as if it might be a useful away goal.
But Seydou Keita straight away made it 4-1 with a fierce near-post drive, after being set up by Messi. And, with just four minutes to go, the indefatigable Alves set up Xavi to make it 5-1 from close range.
Iniesta and Donetsk left-back Razvan Rat will miss the second leg through suspension, though Spain's World Cup hero seemed to pick up his yellow card deliberately, in order not to run the risk of suspension for the semi-finals.
The result leaves Barca well placed to reach the semi-finals for the fourth straight year for an almost certain meeting with historic rivals Real Madrid, who on Tuesday trounced Tottenham 4-0.
"This is a good result and we worked really hard for it. It was an enjoyable game for us. But I'm sure the second leg will not be easy at all," said Dani Alves, who scored Barca's second.
Donetsk striker Douglas Costa said: "We let in goals too easily, and we should have scored more ourselves. We made too many mistakes tonight."
Barca didn't play particularly well and looked shaky in defence, but they punished every mistake that naive Donetsk made at the back. The Ukranians created almost as many chances as Barca, but were absurdly imprecise in both penalty areas.
The hosts made a perfect start with a goal from Andres Iniesta after just two minutes, slotting the ball home at the near post after slipping past two defenders.
Donetsk's Brazilian quartet then created a string of chances but lacked the composure to convert any of them, to the relief of the Camp Nou.
The visitors were punished for their generosity in the 34th minute when Alves made it 2-0. The Brazilian right-back took a perfect high ball from Iniesta and skipped around slow goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov before scoring.
In the 53rd minute, Xavi played a clever low corner for Gerard Pique and the defender's shot was deflected past Pyatov by Yaroslav Rakitskiy to make it 3-0.
Rakitskiy then made amends by flicking in a near-post free-kick from Darijo Srna to score what at the time looked as if it might be a useful away goal.
But Seydou Keita straight away made it 4-1 with a fierce near-post drive, after being set up by Messi. And, with just four minutes to go, the indefatigable Alves set up Xavi to make it 5-1 from close range.
Iniesta and Donetsk left-back Razvan Rat will miss the second leg through suspension, though Spain's World Cup hero seemed to pick up his yellow card deliberately, in order not to run the risk of suspension for the semi-finals.
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