Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks dejected after having his penalty saved by Manchester City's Joe Hart during their Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match against Manchester City in Etihad Stadium, Manchester of England, Feb 22, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Messi, rejuvenated since his reported spat with manager Luis Enrique at the start of the year, was at the heart of Barca's rapier thrusts.

But it was Suarez, whose goals, bites and misplaced words made his time at Liverpool nothing if not compelling, who returned to cast his spell over English football.

It was his brace for Uruguay in June that all but banished England from the World Cup and this time his predatory instincts left City staring at another early exit from Europe.

In the 16th minute Messi's ball in hit City skipper Vincent Kompany on the back and dropped at the feet of Suarez to drill a low shot past the stranded Hart.

The England keeper must be sick of the sight of Suarez and he was beaten again after 30 minutes when Messi mesmerised countryman Pablo Zabaleta and dinked a pass to Jordi Alba whose low cross was touched in by the sliding Uruguayan.