In the fifth minute a timely Van Dijk tackle prevented Neymar’s shot from 12 yards testing Fraser Forster with the corner coming to
nothing, although the goal was only seconds away when the Hoops defence was exposed again.
Alexis Sanchez’s low drive was deflected by Nigerian defender Efe Ambrose on to Forster’s legs but Pique was in the right place four yards out to knock the ball into the net.
Thereafter, Barca’s dominance was at times mesmeric as they moved the Celtic players around the pitch with ease.
In the 26th minute Pique almost got a second when Xavi’s deep free-kick from the right arrived at the back post but his shot from five yards was blocked by the foot of Ambrose.
At times the home side, inspired by the wonderful talent of Alexis Sanchez, were guilty of over-playing but in the 40th minute
Neymar skipped past Ambrose inside the box and cut the ball back for Pedro Rodriguez to steer it low past Forster from six yards.
Things went from bad to worse for Celtic. On the stroke of half-time Alexis Sanchez cleverly dinked the ball over the Celtic defence for right-back Martin Montoya to set Neymar up for an easy third.
Mulgrew replaced Pukki for the start of the second half but within two minutes Neymar played a one-two with Xavi and slammed the ball high into the net from 16 yards before Van Dijk could intervene.
The Scottish champions were heading for a thrashing and they could do little about it.
Neymar got his hat-trick in the 57th minute when he took a pass from Adriano, put the ball through the legs of Ambrose and slipped the ball past Forster with Matthews unable to clear.
The Brazilian should have made it six when he evaded the Hoops defence with time and space to go round Forster but Pedro Rodriguez took the ball off his toes and blasted a shot off Van Dijk and over the bar.
Still Barca drove forward, relentlessly. Tello came on for Alexis Sanchez and there was enough time for him to get the sixth
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