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Barça play ‘perfect game’ to thrash Roma in Champions League clash

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez hailed his team's 6-1 rout of Roma in the Champions League as a "perfect game", which also saw Lionel Messi start for the first time since returning from injury.

Barça play 'perfect game' to thrash Roma in Champions League clash
Photo: Lluis Gene/AFP

Suarez scored twice as the holders celebrated qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League with another stunning display on Tuesday.

Barcelona discovered they had qualified from Group E before they had kicked a ball at the Camp Nou, the 1-1 draw between BATE Borisov and Bayer Leverkusen in Belarus ensuring their passage.

Fresh from crushing eternal rivals Real Madrid 4-0 in La Liga action at the weekend, they then produced a performance that the Italians could not match to secure top spot in the section.

“We know that every player has to fulfil their expectations,” Suarez said.

“We played a perfect game, very complete, and we didn't leave any space in midfield. In the first half we put the game away.

“Neymar, Messi and I are here for the good of the team, for the good of Barca. We don't think individually.”

Messi, making his first return since injury, also notched up two goals.

“The people were waiting for Messi to return and we're all happy that he scored,” acknowledged Suarez.

Messi said there was an evident synchronicity with his teammates.

“With Neymar and Suarez we get on really well. We know we have a responsibility but we also want to have a good time,” the Argentinian said.

“I was really excited to have that feeling of coming back and playing again. I enjoyed watching the team, but playing is better.”

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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