Guardiola can rest easy. The dread of facing an unknown, physical, Eastern European side, hungry to impress its fans proved all for naught. Indeed, the arduous journey to Belarus proved more difficult than the challenge awaiting his side upon arrival. On the back of another stellar performance by Leo Messi, whose brace saw him equal Barcelona goal-scoring legend, Ladislao Kubala, Barca rolled to victory, taking all 3 points in a comprehensive 5-0 rout of BATE Borisov.

A return to the 4-3-3 saw a center back tandem of Mascherano and Puyol, while a forward line of last season’s MVP (Messi-Villa-Pedro) led the charge. Rotations in the midfield gave opportunities for Keita and Thiago to shine, while Busquets and Fabregas were sacrificed to the bench.

BATE Borisov approached the game with what might generously be called a 4-5-1 formation, bunkering down into a damage control 9-1 shape once the whistle was actually blown.

The idea was to erect a nine man defense capable of resisting the onslaught by staying compact and then striking on the counter. It could have worked, if the players did not seem so anxious and uncomfortable in attack. Upon regaining possession of the ball, you could almost see a “retreat!” mentality take over where they would immediately concede possession back to Barcelona and regain their defensive form.

As a result, both teams played in their comfort zones, Barca attacking with both time and numbers in the midfield, BATE defending with everyone, hoping to take advantage of their physical superiority and nick a goal on a set play against a smaller lineup without Pique or Busquets. Barca would never give them the chance, winning the corner battle 11-1.

Messi fired the first warning shot, bending a free kick inches wide of the post, before Villa saw a strong effort parried away by Gutor. The opening goal came 19 minutes in, as a pinpoint cross from Dani Alves forced a frantic clearance attempt at the far post by Volodko, who, under pressure from Messi, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.

The stage was set and just 2 minutes later Pedro found himself on the end of a brilliant cross from Villa, heading it past a poorly timed run by Gutor and into the back of the net.

Showing determination not to let the lead slip, Barca kept their foot on the accelerator, pressing high and firing constant warning shots. An inspired David Villa forced a diving save from Gutor in the 24th minute, in what would be one of his five shots on goal.

With BATE defending so deeply, link-up play became impossible for the Belarusians. Kezman was offered no support in attack, holding up the ball for teammates who refused to abandon their defensive roles and charge upfield. Counters were snuffed out time and again by Mascherano and Puyol, who calmly played the ball out to Xavi and returned to their main responsibility of keeping Valdez company.

Meanwhile, Barcelona continued penetrating into the final third, conscious that with no attacking threat posed by BATE they could take more risks. To the bold go the spoils.

The third goal came in the 37th minute off a defensive blunder. After streaking down the right and centering towards goal, Pedro’s cross was met by the unsure hands of Gutor, who inexplicably dropped the ball right in front of an unmarked Messi. Taking advantage of the mistake, Leo nodded the free header into the back of the net to put the game out of reach.

The second half saw no changes to the script. Following Xavi’s rhythm, Barca dominated chances and in the 55th minute, partners in crime Alves and Messi combined for the fourth, with the Brazilian teeing up the Argentine for a thundering left footed blast into the roof of the net.

Moments later, Messi’s incisive passing saw Eric Abidal through on goal, but the Frenchman was unable to beat Gutor and raise his grand goal tally in a Barcelona uniform to two.

On the other end, Filipp Rudik could not connect on BATE’s best chance of the evening, lifting the ball over the bar from close range late in the match.

With the points assured, Guardiola chose to rest the likes of Xavi, Pedro and Abidal, giving Maxwell a rare opportunity to impress.

But it was David Villa who rounded out the scoring, collecting an errant pass deep in BATE’s half, combining with Thiago and sliding his shot into the lower left corner. De manita en manita, the fourth of the year and third in official competitions.

Sometimes a game gets out of hand to the point where you wonder whether one team was brilliant, or the other simply horrible. Both seemed true tonight. In a game where nothing was expected of BATE, they disappointed everyone, putting in a performance unworthy of Champions League competition.

The win sees Barcelona tied for first place with AC Milan in Group H. After two matches, both have 4 points, with Barcelona leading on goal differential.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

BATE Borisov – Barcelona 0-5 Highlights HD 28.09… by iNfRaS0NiC