Lionel Messi recently returned from a few months on the sidelines to make a minor impact in the El Clasico against Real Madrid on Saturday.

He was not made to wait any longer for a start after manager Luis Enrique gave him the opportunity against Roma in the Champions League. Messi did what he does best – scoring goals – without making it look very difficult indeed.

Players who have spent a couple of months on the sidelines take some time to hit top form, but it was not necessary for Messi who scored twice. The Argentine could have easily secured a hat-trick upon his return, but he allowed Neymar to take a penalty against the Italian club.

Barcelona managed a comprehensive 6-1 win over the Italian outfit, thus qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition in impressive fashion. When the Catalan club drew their opening game of the group stages, an upset seemed like on the cards.

However, they have managed to put aside those worries to win the next four games quite easily. The la Liga table leaders are expected to rest a few players for the final game against Bayer Leverkusen away from home. The two goals scored by Messi were set by Luis Suarez, who later claimed the Argentine to be the best player in the world. If you had stuck £10 on the StanJames live odds next goalscorer market you would have won £40 back for each goal!?

“Messi is the best. It makes you happy just to see him out on the pitch. None of the rest of us would say that we can be the best in the world because he is,” said Suarez.

“Suarez looks like someone who has been playing for Barcelona for years when the reality is that he has not been here that long. As a player he is like a magnet he attracts the ball and team-mates and his attitude is infectious,” said the manager in praise of the Uruguayan.