Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona opened their Champions League Group C campaign with a 7-0 victory over Scottish champions Celtic at Camp Nou on Tuesday night.

Neymar, Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez were also on the scoresheet for the home side in a match that saw Moussa Dembele miss a first-half spot kick for Celtic, who suffered their worst ever European defeat.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique rung the changes from his team's 2-1 defeat to Alaves at the weekend, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Andre Gomes, Messi and Luis Suarez all returning.

Only Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Neymar remained from the side that suffered the shock home loss as Enrique resisted the temptation to rest Messi once again as the Argentine recovers from a groin problem.

As for Celtic, Dembele, fresh from his hat-trick against Rangers at the weekend, led the line with support from Patrick Roberts and Scott Sinclair, while Cristian Gamboa made his debut after joining from West Bromwich Albion.

It took Barcelona just three minutes to make the breakthrough on the night as Neymar released Messi inside the away side's box, and the Argentine arrowed his effort out of the reach of Dorus de Vries into the top corner.

Two minutes later, Kolo Toure almost scored a spectacular own goal to send Barcelona two goals ahead when Alba had delivered from the left, but the centre-back's clearance hit the crossbar and the offside flag brought Celtic a free kick.

Messi had another opportunity in the 16th minute when he found a yard of space outside the Celtic box, but the forward's effort just missed the target, before Luis Suarez missed the chance to convert a Messi cross at the far post.

Celtic were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute of action when Ter Stegen brought Dembele to the ground inside the box, but the 20-year-old, who rose to his feet to take on the responsibility, saw his spot kick saved by Barcelona's German goalkeeper as the visitors missed a glorious chance to level.

Barcelona were shocked into life by the spot kick and scored their second in the 27th minute when Neymar and Messi combined inside the Celtic box before the latter tapped home after De Vries had been drawn out of his goal.

The pressure continued as Barcelona looked for a third and Kieran Tierney was forced to clear a Rakitic effort off the line, before De Vries got down to keep out a low strike from Neymar, who had been released at the end of a counter-attack.

Celtic did have the ball in the back of the Barcelona net in the 42nd minute when Sinclair finished into the bottom corner, but the former Swansea City forward was offside when Tierney released his initial strike.

It did not get any easier for Celtic as Barcelona introduced Iniesta at the interval, and the home side had their third of the match in the 50th minute of action when Neymar curled a free kick into the top corner from 30 yards.

Ten minutes later it was 4-0 Barcelona as Neymar delivered a cross onto the right boot of Iniesta, whose explosive volley found the back of the net, before Messi tapped a Luis Suarez cross home for five less than two minutes later.

Celtic's frustration was shown in the 63rd minute when Nir Bitton decided to have a shot from inside his own half and Ter Stegen simply stood still to save and set up another period of possession for the dominant hosts.

The Scottish champions enjoyed their best spell of the second half 20 minutes from time when they managed to work the ball into wide positions, but it was very comfortable for a Barcelona team that responded from the Alaves defeat in style.

Neymar, who ended the night with four assists, almost provided a sixth for Barcelona in the 72nd minute when he found fellow Brazilian Rafinha just inside the Celtic box, but Eoghan O'Connell was on hand to make a smart block.

Barcelona did make it 6-0 in the 75th minute, however, when Luis Suarez controlled a pass from Neymar before smashing the ball into the top corner to continue the humiliation for the Scottish giants.

The Catalan giants continued to pass and probe in the latter stages as they searched for a seventh, and Messi hit the post in the 88th minute before Luis Suarez completed his brace with a close-range finish.

Group A's other match between Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach was postponed due to the weather conditions in Manchester, which had made the pitch at the Etihad Stadium unplayable.