Dynamo Kyiv 0-4 Barcelona: 5 talking points as the Blaugrana run riot in Ukraine | UEFA Champions League 2020-21

#3 Martin Braithwaite has defining Barcelona moment

This time last year, Martin Braithwaite was neck-deep in a relegation battle with Leganes. Not in his wildest dreams could he have believed he would soon be at Barcelona rubbing shoulders with Lionel Messi and co.

However, long-term injury issues to Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez saw Barcelona make use of a caveat in La Liga transfer rules to sign the Denmark international from the capital side.

His late addition meant he was ineligible for the Champions League but things have hardly gone spectacularly, with Braithwaite mostly on the sidelines at Camp Nou.

The absence of Messi and Griezmann gave the former Bordeaux man a chance to take center stage, and he did so excellently, grabbing a brace as well as the assist for the opener.

2 - Martin Braithwaite has become the second 🇩🇰 Danish 🇩🇰 player to be involved in three goals in a single #ChampionsLeague game (two goals + assist) after Nicklas Bendtner for @Arsenal in 2010 (three goals) since at least 2003/04 season. Dannebrog@FCBarcelona #FCBarcelona

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 24, 2020

This saw him become only the second Danish player (after Nicklas Bendtner) to have a hand in three Champions League goals since 2004, sending a statement of intent to Ronald Koeman over his usefulness.

Braithwaite has been linked with a move away from Camp Nou in recent weeks but his performance here shows that he could still play a key role at the club.

#2 Antoine Griezmann steps off the bench to make a mark

Griezmann scored Barcelona's 4th goal

It is no hidden secret that Antoine Griezmann has struggled to prove his mettle since completing his record-breaking move to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid.

The France international has looked horribly out of form while he has hardly been helped by suggestions in the media of bad blood between him and Messi.

With the Rosario native rested, Griezmann would have fancied his chances of making a mark but was disappointingly left on the bench in favor of youngsters.

He did, however, get his chance when he was introduced in place of Philippe Coutinho in the 65th minute and just five minutes later, the visitors got a penalty which Braithwaite confidently stood up to dispatch.

Just when it looked like the World Cup winner would endure another frustrating evening in front of goal, he scored Barcelona's fourth goal with an excellent finish in the second minute of injury time.

The goal was only his third of the campaign, and even though Barcelona fans need him to perform on bigger stages against better opponents, the goal would go a long way in boosting Griezmann's fragile confidence.

#1 Hapless Dynamo Kyiv fail to offer much of a challenge

On paper, this looked like a straightforward fixture for Barcelona but the struggles currently being experienced by the Catalans, coupled with Messi's absence, meant that this tie had the potential to become problematic.

This is evidenced by the fact that the first leg ended in a narrow 2-1 victory for Barcelona, and the manner in which the Blaugrana fell to defeat against Atletico Madrid last weekend would have given the Ukrainians hope.

24y 206d - @FCBarcelona starting XI had an average age of 24y 206d, the club’s youngest in the Champions League since 2011 and their seventh youngest ever in the competition. Future.@ChampionsLeague #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/G7EYCFRk5X

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 24, 2020

However, the home side failed to step up to the plate despite playing against a largely inexperienced side and they were unarguably second-best for the entirety of the game.