5 Truths: Barcelona and Bayern in terrifying form

It’s a tasty pub debate, and one that probably requires a thorough grounding of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team: has there ever been a better front three than Barcelona’s current trio?

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez ran riot as Barcelona cruised to a 6-1 win over Roma – the perfect consolidation of their Clasico triumph. It wasn’t just that they netted four of the goals (a tally that would have been five, had Neymar not shanked a penalty). No, it was their interplay. It was as though Messi, returning to the starting line-up following an injury lay-off, had never been absent. It was all summed up by their second goal, a ruthless scythe through the Roma backline: Messi… Neymar… Messi… Suarez… Messi… delicate chip… goal. A stunning one-touch move made to look ridiculously simple.

Oh, and they did this as well - just look at that first touch from Neymar!

Not that they should get too ahead of themselves. Real Madrid were in the midst of a 22-match winning run at this stage last season, and we all know how that ended…

Pep Guardiola went all-out attack against Olympiacos, probably tactically, but possibly just to show off just how strong his squad is. There was no Thiago, Javi Martinez, Xabi Alonso, Mario Gotze or David Alaba in midfield for the German Champions, with Pep instead playing essentially a front five to overpower the Greek visitors. It hardly came as a surprise that Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller were dangerous from the start, while Douglas Costa’s frightening speed has added another element to an already daunting attacking unit.

But it was the performance of Kingsley Coman that really caught the eye. The Frenchman has pace to burn and tore the visitors apart out on the left wing in a display that perfectly illustrated the depth in quality of the squad. Man-for-man Barcelona have probably the best starting XI in the world right now… but surely nobody has a better squad than Bayern.

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Arsenal usually make life hard for themselves and this season’s Champions League campaign is a perfect example. Where was the quality in September when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb, a team they so easily tore apart on this occasion?

What we do know is that they’ll have to bring this level of performance to Greece if they are to secure second spot in the group. Sure, the atmosphere will be intimidating but if the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez can perform to the best of the ability and the defence holds its nerve, then Arsenal will go close to completing the impossible.

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Had Jose Mourinho appointed himself groundsman before the match in Haifa, Chelsea could have stuck seven or eight past the Group G whipping boys. The Portuguese manager was spotted stamping on the turf during proceedings, aghast at seeing his side’s fine build-up play disrupted by a bobbly pitch.

It didn’t matter. The Blues outclassed their opponents in a manner only previously seen by them this season against, well, Maccabi Tel Aviv in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge. But the signs are still promising. Chelsea were on the decline the last time they played the Israeli side, this time they are surely on the rise - even if that's an inevitable outcome following a dismal slump. The first true test of any change in fortunes will present itself on Sunday against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Win there, and they might yet click into gear...

Ignore Zenit St Petersburg’s shaky domestic form – seven points adrift of league pacesetters CSKA Moscow. Ignore their favourable Champions League draw too – Valencia, Lyon and Gent.

For all their failings and fortune, this Zenit side is strong and fully deserve their 100 per cent record in the Champions League. Hulk and Artem Dzyuba may grab the headlines, but it’s Axel Witsel’s tireless work in midfield that gives them the platform to attack. Zenit stifled the Valencia midfield with such ease, that they could yet unsettle their unseeded knockout opponents.