Lionel Messi smashed the all-time Champions League goalscoring record by netting a hat-trick in Barcelona's 4-0 win at APOEL on Tuesday night.
The Argentina forward broke the La Liga goalscoring record by netting
three times in a 5-1 thrashing of Sevilla on Saturday and he was at it
again in Nicosia three days later.
Messi's struck after 38 minutes in the Group F encounter at the Neo GSP
Stadium to pass Real Madrid legend Raul's record of 71 goals in Europe's
premier club competition.
The mercurial Barca talisman's latest milestone came after Luis Suarez
scored his first goal for the Catalan giants with a fine turn and finish
as the Cypriot champions were totally outclassed.
Suarez had failed to find the back of the net in his first five matches
since making his debut following a four-month ban for biting Italy
Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, but his opening goal was worth
the wait.
But it was Messi's night and he struck twice in the second half as
Barca, who were already assured of a place in the last 16, eased to a
victory that ensured their final group match against Paris Saint-Germain
next month will decide who finishes top.
Barca had Rafinha sent off for a second bookable offence 20 minutes from
time and defender Joao Guilherme was dismissed for the home side, who
head to Ajax for their final game needing a win to secure a Europa
League spot at the expense of the Eredivisie side.
Neymar and Xavi dropped to the bench as Luis Enrique made five changes
to the side that hammered Sevilla, while APOEL striker Vinicius was
passed fit after recovering from a knee injury.
Stand-in skipper Messi spurned a chance to surpass Raul after only two
minutes as Urko Pardo saved his effort from the edge of the penalty area
with his feet.
APOEL were inviting pressure as they sat far too deep and Jordi Alba
should have made them pay when he surged forward and volleyed over the
crossbar from close range after Messi picked him out with a sublime pass
It was only a matter of time before Barca went in front and the opening goal came courtesy of a moment of class from Suarez after 27 minutes.
The Uruguay striker took a pass from Alba on the corner of the area and
turned his marker with a lovely piece of skill before taking his time to
beat Pardo with a measured right-footed finish to end his wait for a
first Barca goal
Messi then took centre stage yet again seven minutes
before the break, when the recalled Rafinha tried his luck and the
Argentine turned his shot beyond the wrong-footed Pardo to pass yet
another landmark.
The visitors carried on where they left off after the interval and Messi
took his Champions League goal tally to 73 with a clinical right-footed
finish after Dani Alves had picked him out with an incisive pass 58
minutes in.
APOEL had offered nothing going forward, but were denied a first goal in
four games when Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced an outstanding save to
deny Tomas De Vincenti.
Rafinha was then shown a second yellow card for a challenge on De
Vincenti before APOEL were also
reduced to 10 six minutes from time when
Joao Guilherme was given his marching orders for a challenge on Pedro.
There was still time for Messi to add his third goal,
applying the finish after Pedro had linked up with Xavi and cut the ball
back for the man of the moment to score his second hat-trick in as many
games.
Source:goal.com
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