Spanish champions FC Barcelona rebounded from last weekend’s shock home loss to modest Hércules with a 5-1 trouncing of Greece’s Panathinaikos in the opening fixture of both teams’ 2010/11 UEFA Champions League campaign on Tuesday.
France international Sydney Govou put Panathinaikos up 1-0 in the 20th minute. However, Barcelona promptly responded with three unanswered goals from Lionel Messi (2) and new signing David Villa. Pedro Rodriguez and Dani Alves scored in the 78th and 93rd minutes to complete the rout.