Lionel Messi scored twice for Barcelona as the Spanish giants registered a comprehensive 5-0 away victory over BATE Borisov.
Messi nets a brace in comprehensive win in Minsk
Lionel Messi scored twice for Barcelona as the Spanish giants registered a comprehensive 5-0 victory over BATE Borisov in Belarus in their UEFA Champions League Group H game on Wednesday evening.
The defending European champions went ahead as early as 19th minute at the Dinamo Stadion in Minsk when Aleksandr Valadzko kicked the ball into his own net, and doubled their advantage just three minutes later through Pedro.
Messi took advantage of a goalkeeping error from Aleksandr Gutor to put Barca 3-0 up on 38 minutes and blasted in his second of the evening 10 minutes into the second half to move level with Ladislau Kubala's total of 194 goals in second place in Barca's all-time scoring list.
David Villa then wrapped up a resounding win for Pep Guardiola's team in the final minutes.
First half goals
As expected, Belarusian side BATE found themselves under constant pressure from the off, with Thiago firing a shot straight at Gutor before Messi fizzed a free-kick inches wide of the right-hand post.
The partisan home crowd were on their feet whenever their side entered the Barcelona half, with their only early chance seeing Renan Bressan head over at the near post.
But the opener inevitably arrived after 19 minutes as some typically slick build-up saw Volodko turn the ball into his own net at the far post under pressure from Messi.
The second arrived moments later as Villa's beautifully weighted pass picked out Pedro, who headed beyond the advancing Gutor.
Despite having so much of the ball Barca were almost caught out on the half-hour as Volodko raced on to a through ball, but Carles Puyol produced a fantastic covering tackle.
And normal service was soon resumed as Gutor was forced into a sharp near-post save after Villa had cut in from the left.
The third arrived eight minutes before the interval as Gutor failed to hold a Pedro cross and allowed Messi to steal in and nod home.
Messi then lacerated the BATE defence with a wonderful pass but could not convert when Villa attempted to set him up.
Domination continues
A lovely one-two with Pedro freed the Argentine early in the second session but he fluffed his finish as he closed in on goal.
But he finally moved into joint-second place on the Catalan club's all-time scoring list five minutes before the hour mark as Alves teed him up to fire a left-footed shot high into the roof of the net.
Messi's masterclass continued as another incisive pass gave Eric Abidal a great chance, but the defender was denied by Gutor.
Filipp Rudik had BATE's best chance but lifted the ball over the bar, before Maksim Skavysh failed to collect with a threatening cross. But they would end the night still searching for a first home Champions League goal.
Guardiola was able to rest the likes of Xavi, Pedro and Abidal with the game won as his side cruised through the final quarter of a routine win, with Villa rounding things off in the 90th minute as he slotted low into the net.
| BATE Borisov |
Team Statistics |
Barcelona |
| 0 |
Goals |
5 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
3 |
| 0 |
Shots on Target |
12 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
9 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 1 |
Corners |
11 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 75.2 |
Passing Success |
92.5 |
| 6 |
Tackles |
14 |
| 83.3 |
Tackles Success |
71.4 |
| 27.2 |
Possession |
72.8 |
| 25.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
74.2 |
|
