Lionel Messi lived up to the pre-game billing given to him by Pep Guardiola to spoil his former coach's Camp Nou return as Barcelona beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg.
Wednesday's encounter in Catalonia marked the first time since his departure from Barca in 2012 that Guardiola had met the team he led to 14 major trophies in four years.
Guardiola had branded Messi "unstoppable" in the build-up to the game and his words proved prophetic as Messi dismantled Bayern with two spectacular late goals.
Having seen Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer frustrate Barca for much of the encounter, the two sides looked set to head back to the Allianz Arena next week with the tie finely poised at 0-0.
But Messi, playing in his 100th European game, produced another sparkling display of his undeniable brilliance to put Barca in command, breaking the deadlock with a rasping 77th-minute opener.
Barcelona's Javier Mascherano has given up trying to describe team-mate Lionel Messi, after the Argentine striker tore Bayern Munich apart in the Catalans' 3-0 UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg win.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola insisted there is more to Barcelona than just Lionel Messi, despite the Argentine's two-goal performance in the opening leg of Wednesday's semi-final tie.
Barcelona took a stranglehold of proceedings in the UEFA Champions League clash after three late goals helped the home side to a 3-0 victory at Camp Nou.
Messi lived up to the pre-match hype, netting twice in the final 13 minutes, before setting up Neymar's injury-time goal as Bayern's resolve was finally broken in Barcelona.
Guardiola - facing the team he led to 14 major trophies for the first time since 2012 - refused to single out Messi for praise, telling reporters: "I will not say what I think of Messi. They are not just Leo, Barca are a very good team.
"They were very solid, in defence and attack. They have great players, Neymar, Luis Suarez.
"We tried to control the game so that Messi would not participate so much. We were 15 minutes away from a very good result.
"I am very proud of this team, and these players. For three months we've had problems, reached here, won Bundesliga, competed as these players have done, for many years winning things.
"I have no reproach for them. Been a very difficult year, I really appreciate what they have done this year."
Guardiola, whose Bayern crashed to a third consecutive defeat in all competitions for the first time since 2011, added: "We knew who we would be playing against, a team arriving in very good form. The best way to defend is to attack, it has worked well for us in the past.
"I could not come here and shut up shop. Against players at his level, Leo, and others, there is this possibility if you lose the ball close to your area.
"We lacked a little bit of incision up front, but I must just congratulate Barca for the win and prepare for Munich."
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