Highlights: Barcelona and PSG claim victories - Golden night for Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona claimed easy victories in Group F to sit comfortably at the top of Group F, with 13 and 12 points respectively, with one more match left to play and the losing sides on the day nowhere within touching distance.
Lionel Messi became the record Champions League goalscorer and Luis Suarez opened his account for Barcelona as the Catalan giants cruised to a 4-0 win over APOEL Nicosia.
Suarez put Barca ahead with his first goal for the club since his £64million summer move from Liverpool, before it was the Argentine maestro Lionel Messi who took centre-stage with a hat-trick. Remarkably, all three goals came off Messi’s weaker right foot.
As if knowing it was his day, Messi started off the match with a spark, setting up chances for Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez. It was the Uruguay international, though, who breathed fire into the match with an audacious goal soon enough.
Barca forward Rafinha received a second yellow card in the 74th minute, but the numerical disadvantage lasted only till the 84th minute when Joao Guilherme picked up his second booking too.
PSG stayed a point clear of Barca with their win over Ajax. Ajax seemed to have clawed back a point with an equalizer midway through the second half, but this only seemed to increase the focus of the Parissienes.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic led the way by scoring a goal from a stunning volley, after which Edinson Cavani scored his second of the night to settle the matter 3-1 in the home team’s favour.
Here are the goals which lit up tonight’s Champions League action.
APOEL 0-1 BARCELONA: Suarez (27’)
APOEL 0-2 BARCELONA: Messi (38’)
APOEL 0-3 BARCELONA: Messi (58’)
APOEL 0-4 BARCELONA: Messi (87’)
