Lio Messi celebrates after scoring against Stuttgart (AP Photo)
Barcelona took last week's elimination of Real Madrid as a lesson that had to be learned. Like good students, the Blaugrana Ballet studied and absorbed the information and aced this test like many others in the recent past.
During the week, Josep Guardiola praised his opponent and offered caution. He told the Catalan media that if they did not focus on the task at hand Stuttgart could eliminate them.
Although they respected the Germans off the pitch, Barca steamrolled over them; beating them 4-0 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.
Barca came into the game with every intention of being offensive and Stuttgart had no answers for that blaugrana. What was most frustrating for the Germans was the fact that the home side were perfectly set up on defense, making goalkeeper Victor Valdés virtually a spectator.
The night was frustrating especially for Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. He was the only player that truly kept the close. His saves and ability to cut off angles prevented the match being a historic slaughter.
Messi's first goal in the 13th minute was vintage. He ran three past defenders and found the space right outside the Stuttgart box and unleashed a shot that curled over the Lehmann's outstretched arms. A few minutes later, would find Yaya Touré on the left and the triangulation would find Pedro in the box to double the culé lead.
Barcelona would then extend their lead after Pedro would break towards goal. He found Dani Alves who first-time heal passed the ball to Lio Messi who would nail the ball past Jens Lehmann.
Bojan Krkic would make it 4-0 a few minutes after he came in and would take a Zlatan Ibrahimovic pass and slot the ball past Lehmann.
The Barcelona performance was one of those that not one player played poorly. It was one of those epic performance that they have accustomed us to when they have to show up.
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