Bayer Leverkusen captain Simon Rolfes has said Barcelona are "in a league of their own" with the Spaniards on course to become the first team to defend the Champions League title.
The holders dismantled Leverkusen 7-1 in Barcelona on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of European football's top club competition.
Having beaten Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium in last season's final, Barcelona are bidding to become the first team to lift the Champions League trophy in consecutive seasons.
World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, still only 24, set a new record by scoring five goals against the hapless Germans who lost the Round of 16 tie 10-2 on aggregate.
Messi struck twice before the break and then hit a further three after the restart while youngster Cristian Tello also grabbed a brace in the rout before Leverkusen's Karim Bellarabi scored a late consolation goal.
"We have all agreed that Barcelona played in a league of their own," said Germany midfielder Rolfes, who described the game as a "nightmare".
"When you have Messi up front, with Xavi (Hernandez) and (Andres) Iniesta just behind him, you have to say they are simply incredible."
Leverkusen were totally outplayed at the Camp Nou stadium and even their experienced Germany internationals admitted it was no fun to be on the end of Barcelona's almost flawless display.
"It is difficult when you are three or four goals down and then you concede the fifth goal - we are all only human," said ex-Germany striker Stefan Kiessling.
"It is hard to pick yourself up after that, we didn't want to be slaughtered, for god's sake. It all went horribly wrong."
Source: AFP
