Barcelona 5 BATE Borisov 0LIONEL MESSI scored twice to move up the record books as Barcelona crushed BATE Borisov 5-0 away for their first win in Champions League Group H last night.
The Argentine World Player of the Year headed the third just before the break and smashed the fourth high into the net to go on to 194 club goals, equalling Ladislau Kubala as Barca’s second highest scorer of all time.
An own goal from BATE’s Aleksandr Volodko in the 19th minute and a header from Pedro three minutes later had set Barca on course for a victory in which they barely broke a sweat. David Villa wrapped up the scoring at the end.
Barca had started their title defence with a 2-2 draw at home to AC Milan two weeks ago and went level on four points with the Italians at the top of the group after Milan won 2-0 at home to Viktoria Plzen.
BATE set their stall out with 10 yellow shirts staying back and former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman a very lonely figure up front as Barca were utterly dominant.
The visitors at first found it crowded and did not get a clear sniff of goal until Daniel Alves floated a cross in towards the back post and Volodko turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Messi. Barca then took total control.
It was only Messi’s second headed goal in the Champions League, after the one he scored in the final win over Manchester United two years ago. Villa rounded off the scoring, breaching the offside trap to slide home the fifth in the 90th minute.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted a penalty and set up a second goal for Antonio Cassano to give injury-plagued AC Milan a 2-0 win over rank outsiders Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League last night.
Ibrahimovic, returning after a two week absence through injury, broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute after a penalty awarded for handball which the Czech champions protested was accidental.
Thirteen minutes later, the Swede poked the ball through for Cassano to chip the ball over goalkeeper Marek Cech. The win left the Serie A champions with four points from two games in Group H and Plzen, making their debut in the tournament, with one.
BATE BORISOV:Gutor, Alexander Volodko, Filipenko, Simic, Bordachev, Kontsevoy, Olekhnovich, Baga, Rudik (Aleksiyan 60), Bressan (Kurlovich 81), Kezman (Skavysh 55). Subs not used: Chesnovskiy, Likhtarovich, Gordeychuk, Radkov. Booked: Simic.
BARCELONA: Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Abidal (Adriano 61), Xavi (Fabregas 59), Mascherano, Thiago, Keita, Pedro (Maxwell 69), Messi, Villa. Subs not used: Pinto, Pique, Busquets, Fontas. Booked: Dani Alves.
Referee: Manuel Grafe (Germany).
