They were missing Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, all dripping international class, at the kick-off but it mattered not a jot. If Manchester United's recent tactics can be described as 'give the ball to Rooney', then Barcelona's cannot be much different in regard to their own number 10.

Never has a player looked so likely to score when he is in front of goal. Never has a player looked so dangerous when carrying the ball at pace. Never has one player looked like such a threat all on his own. The manner of Messi's goals against Arsenal showed the measure of the man, the mark of greatness.

A one-two off the ambling hoof of Mikael Silvestre and then unerringly, the ball struck the top corner while that wand of a left-foot had scarcely room to swing. A through-ball to Seydou Keita and the alertness to gather Pedro's lay-off before stroking a right-footer inside Manuel Almunia's near post. Breaking a woeful defensive line and converting a Keita header on the half-way line into a penetrative through ball before delectably chipping a stranded goalkeeper and making it all look so desperately easy. And that all occurred in 20 minutes.