As expected, Barcelona had no problem with APOEL on Tuesday, recording a comfortable 4-0 win. Lionel Messi scored a hat trick, breaking Raul's record for Champions League goals, while Luis Suarez scored his first goal in a Blaugrana shirt.
APOEL vs. Barcelona: Final score 0-4, Lionel Messi dominant
Lionel Messi passed Raul’s Champions League scoring record, then scored two more goals.
For most of the match, Messi played on the right, while Suarez operated through the center. It worked wonderfully on a number of occasions, and their 17th minute combination that featured Messi beating two men before setting up Suarez for a shot was a sign of things to come, even if it was saved.
Suarez's opener came in the 27th minute, and it was a beauty. He spun his defender like a top when he received a pass from Jordi Alba at the elbow of the box and placed a finish past Urko Pardo.
It wasn't all perfect for Barca, though. Dani Alves picked up a booking in the 33rd minute, and he'll miss the crucial game against Paris Saint-Germain on the final matchday. Rafinha Alcantara also had a rough day in relief of Andres Iniesta, picking up a yellow card two minutes after Alves. He'd eventually get sent off in the second half, though it was inconsequential.
Messi’s first and record-breaking goal came in the 38th minute. Rafinha will be credited with the assist, though he wasn’t trying to pass. He took a shot and Messi, realizing it was a tame one headed right for the keeper, redirected the ball into the back of the net.
The second half was a walk in the park for Barca, with Messi completing a hat trick. He controlled a Alves pass and poked past Pardo to score in the 58th minute, then added his third just three minutes from time in impressive fashion. He knew he was offside on a ball in by Javier Mascherano, so he stood still to avoid interfering with play and the ball ran for Pedro. Messi got back onside, then poked in Pedro's cutback to add an exclamation point to Barca's win.
While there aren’t any official stats on this, it’s highly likely that this was Messi’s first ever hat trick in which he scored all three goals with his right foot.
APOEL: Pardo, Antoniades, Cardao, Guilherme (red 84’), Sergio, Aloneftis (Efrem 46’), Vinicius (Djebbour 74’), Morais, Gomes, Manduca (De Vincenti 63’), Sheridan
Goals: None.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Alba (Adriano 62'), Pique, Bartra, Alves, Mascherano, Rakitic (Xavi 62'), Rafinha (red 70'), Pedro, Messi, Suarez (Busquets 77')
Goals: Suarez (27’), Messi (38’, 58’, 87’)
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