Barcelona rode their luck before claiming a 2-0 win over Copenhagen to go top of Group D.
Messi brace denies plucky Danes a memorable draw
Barcelona rode their luck before claiming a 2-0 win over Copenhagen to leapfrog the Danes to the top of Group D.
Lionel Messi smashed in a 19th-minute opener as Barca made a host of chances in an impressive first-half performance.
But the Spanish giants breathed a sigh of relief as Dame N'Doye, Copenhagen's star man as they won each of their opening two group games, struck the crossbar in the 67th minute.
Messi then bundled in his fourth goal in three Champions League matches this season to seal victory in stoppage time and end Copenhagen's seven-match winning streak in all competitions.
Barca made a strong start as David Villa chipped against the crossbar before Maxwell saw a shot saved by Copenhagen's Swedish goalkeeper Johan Wiland.
Messi opener
Messi then had a header saved in the 17th minute but opened the scoring shortly after as Gerard Pique charged forward before laying off to Andres Iniesta, who squared for Messi to smash a 20-yard strike into the top corner.
Villa then had a goal disallowed for offside before volleying too close to Wiland, while Messi also had a goal disallowed for offside after good work by Pique.
Dani Alves was dangerous from right-back and, as half-time approached, the Brazil international cut inside to beat two men and force a fine low save from Wiland.
Barca left out first-choice keeper Victor Valdes although Copenhagen failed to test deputy Jose Pinto until late on, with Cesar Santin spurning their best opening of the first half as the Brazilian striker, who scored a hat-trick at the weekend, inexplicably turning away from the ball after being released down the left channel as he thought he heard the referee's whistle.
The Danish champions came into the game more after the break, though, and both N'Doye and Santin just failed to get a touch to Zdenek Pospech's right-wing cross.
Danes improved
Although Barca dominated possession, Copenhagen restricted them to just a few chances in the second half, with Messi curling over from the edge of the box from Alves' tackle.
Carles Puyol and Alves both had to make last-ditch tackles to prevent N'Doye and substitute Christián Bolaños getting shots away as the visitors began to threaten an equaliser.
And Barca had a real scare as N'Doye held off Puyol to bring down a high ball and smash a 25-yard volley against the bar, with Santin heading wide from the rebound with Pinto stranded.
Wiland was out quickly to deny Villa from Messi's nod-down but Copenhagen captain William Kvist almost caught out Pinto with a speculative lob from the centre circle.
But Barca killed off any hope of the Danes claiming a famous point at the Camp Nou as Alves fired against a post late on before Messi turned in Eric Abidal's cut-back.
| Barcelona |
Team Statistics |
FC København |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
0 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 7 |
Corners |
3 |
| 7 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 7 |
Offsides |
8 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 89.0 |
Passing Success |
75.5 |
| 11 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 90.9 |
Tackles Success |
86.4 |
| 70.1 |
Possession |
29.9 |
| 63.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
36.5 |
|
