MADRID, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona ensured they finished top of their Champions League qualifying group thanks to a 3-1 win over a powerful Paris Saint Germain side on Tuesday night.
Leo Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez lived up to their billing as one of the most deadly attacking trios in the world and all three got on the score-sheet on a night which will do much to boost the confidence of Luis Enrique's side.
The Barca coach sprang several surprises in his starting 11 with Pedro Rodriguez playing at right back for the suspended Dani Alves, while Marc Bartra and Jeremy Mathieu were also in the side, while Javier Mascherano was pushed into midfield and Andres Iniesta made his first start after recovering from injury.
With Neymar, Messi and Suarez in the Barca attack, while PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovich was keen to show why he should never have left the Catalan club, it was always going to be a difficult night for defenses and Ibrahimovich soon made that clear when he finished off a neat passing move to put the visitors ahead after 15 minutes.
Barca wasted no time in drawing level and it was the Champions League's record scorer, Messi who did the honors with a right foot finish after an assist from Suarez.
Despite drawing level Barca looked far from comfortable and Lucas Moura missed a fine chance to put PSG back in front when he sent the ball wide when well -placed following a corner.
However , it was Barca who went ahead when Neymar scored a stunning right foot shot from outside of the penalty area four minutes before the break.
Luis Suarez sealed Barca's win 13 minutes from the end. The Uruguayan scored his second goal for the club and his first in the Camp Nou, with a tap in following a move involving Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Neymar.
Meanwhile Athletic Club Bilbao ensured their European adventure will continue in the New Year, all be it in the Europa League, with a 2-0 win at home to BATE Borisov which also means the Basque sides will be seeded in the knockout round of the competition.
Second half goals from Mikel San Jose and Markel Susaeta see Athletic finish third in their group with 7 points after a game they dominated for all 90 minutes.