An Inspired Messi Puts Barcelona into the Champions' Quarters

Viewed in the harsh light of cold reality, Olympique Lyonnais probably peaked in this pairing Champions League bracket pairing when they went scoreless at home in the first leg.

That 0-0 result in Lyon three weeks ago at least gave them a shot at winning on away goals at Camp Nou if they coul just stay even with mighty Barcelona.

Right.

As if that was gonna happen.

 

A riskier bet woulda been the sun rising in the East. Barça sent them packing, 5-1.

Dudes came out like the juggernaut they are, leaving nothing to chance, as if Les Gones -- aptly, the Kids -- ever had one.

The last thing the Blaugrana needed was favors, but  Jason Denayer gave them one, anyway, when his foul on Luis Suárez in the box put Lionel Messi at the spot.

Non on the spot, because the Atomic Flea knows what to do at the spot:

So, 17 minutes in, and Lyon already had one foot in the grave.

Just under a quarter hours later, they were in it entirely.

Philippe Coutinho, was the beneficiary of a spiffy Suárez deke-&-dish, which left him to beat an empty net:

 

The Kids have gotta be thinking this kid can't grow up and sign with them fast enough:

 

Seems like they have a need for a few defenders willing to give their body up for their cause.

After the break, Lyon actually allowed themselves a moment of hope. 

In the 58th minute, dudes pulled a goal back when Lucas Tousart half-volleyed home from close range past Marc-André ter Stegen:

 

At this point, the math said Lyon only needed another goal to advance, but Barça had their own kinda math:

Camp Nou + Messi = Ring it up

 

For a while, the French side had a spell where they gave the Catalan crew a hard time, but it was at the cost of leaving too much space for a counter-attack.

So, in the 78th, Messi stepped up once again after getting nifty service from Sergio Busquets, drove forward, cut inside from the left -- leaving two Lyon defenders on the ground -- and easily beat Anthony Lopes:

 

Two minutes later, Barcelona made it four.

Messi was involved again, dashing forward and feeding Gerard Piqué, who finished easily.

 

Ousmane Dembélé closed the game when Barça launched a quick counter-attack at the 88th minute.

Messi's pass was true, and the Frenchman's first-time finish went five-hole on Lopes:

 

Barcelona's ambition to claim a treble this season lives on:

• They've got a seven-point lead over second-place Atlético Madrid in La Liga,
• They're in the Copa del Rey final against Valenia, and
• They're in the Champions' semi-finals.

Speaking of trebles, they kicked El Clásico patootie three times -- twice in league and in the Copa del Rey semi-finals this season.

In other words, it's just another season in Catalonia.