Lionel Messi’s record five-goal haul in the 7-1 Champions League rout of Bayer 04 Leverkusen prompted Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to hail the Argentine master as the game’s greatest talent.
Guardiola was not alone in his admiration after the defending champions sailed into the quarter-finals on a 10-2 aggregate.
Robin Dutt, the coach of the vanquished Germans, insisted that Messi made Barcelona look as if they came from “another galaxy,” while England striker Wayne Rooney took to Twitter to anoint the superstar as “the best ever.”
“I am fortunate to have Messi in the team and all I can do is try and create the conditions so that he plays his best football,” Guardiola said.
“You won’t see anyone else like him. People said that Di Stefano, Maradona and Cruyff were the best when they were playing and now it is the same for Messi. He is on the throne and it is down to him how long he stays there,” he added.
Messi bettered his previous record of four against Arsenal two seasons ago and now has 12 goals from seven Champions League matches this season, after a majestic attacking performance from the World Player of the Year.
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, it was always going to be a tough task for Leverkusen, with Barca unbeaten in 13 European home games.
Messi struck twice before the break and then hit a further three after the restart, while youngster Cristian Tello also grabbed a brace.
Messi, as always, preferred the under-statement to superlatives.
“I’m happy, it’s great to score a five, but the important thing tonight was the win and to qualify for the quarter-finals. Now, no matter who we meet, it is going to be very complicated, there are only good sides left in,” he said.
Dutt did not hold back in his praise for Barca and their guiding force.
“There are no words to describe this performance from them, it was extraordinary, there is no doubt,” Dutt said. “Without Messi they are still the best, but with him they are from another galaxy.”
Rooney, whose Manchester United side failed to make the last 16, insisted he had witnessed a genius at work.
“Messi is a joke. For me, the best ever,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, APOEL on Wednesday became the first Cypriot side to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, when they beat Olympique Lyonnais 4-3 on penalties after their round-of-16 tie was level 1-1 on aggregate following extra time.
Goalkeeper Dionisis Chiotis was the hero of the night, after saving penalties from Alexandre Lacazette and Michel Bastos.
“Without doubt, this is a very big night for APOEL and Cypriot football, it’s something fantastic,” said APOEL’s Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic, whose team had triumphed 1-0 on the night after losing by the same score in France.
He added that, when starting out in the competition last summer, “we didn’t dream of coming this far” and attributed the victory to “incredible effort, decisiveness and organization,” while the team “played a “perfect game.”
Olympique Lyonnais coach Remi Garde said there were “no excuses,” but avoided criticizing his penalty flops.
A nail-biting 30 minutes of extra time saw APOEL reduced to 10 men and substitute Ivan Trickovski shooting high and wide from the edge of area on 114 minutes.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, unfancied APOEL got off to a perfect start when Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Manduca slotted home from close range after only nine minutes. However, Manduca’s night ended in red when receiving his second yellow deep in extra time, although he was still given a standing ovation.
The 23,000 sold-out GSP Stadium was a wall of deafening sound and a sea of orange as APOEL’s fanatical fans spurred the team on during the biggest game in the club’s 85-year history.
A large banner in the home stand read: “Feel the terror of Nicosia,” as APOEL’s vociferous support ensured a hostile atmosphere for the French visitors.
Ever since the draw for the last 16 was made, APOEL were hopeful the tie would be decided at home and the fixture was set up perfectly, with the Cypriots only trailing 1-0 from the first leg from a Lacazette strike.
Olympique Lyonnais began the match nervously, but edged back into the game after going behind so early. They knew an away goal would get them out of jail and Bastos should have done better than send his header over the bar from 8m on the half hour.
The home side always looked dangerous on the break, while playing a patient passing game hoping for cracks to appear in the Olympique Lyonnais defense.
Star striker Ailton was a constant threat, winning fouls in the opposition half and proving a wily customer, while Helder Sousa was tireless in midfield.
With victory, APOEL continue their magical adventure after punching above their weight against more illustrious sides such as Porto, Zenit St Petersburg and now Olympique Lyonnais.
APOEL are the most decorated team in Cypriot football. A founder member of the Cyprus Football Association, they were formed in a sweet shop 85 years ago.
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