Barcelona lost two games in a row in La Liga, but they've bounced back in the Champions League, and should head into their big match with Paris Saint-Germain in control of their own fate after recording a 2-0 win away to Ajax.
Ajax vs. Barcelona: Final score 0-2, Lionel Messi sets goals record in win
The Blaugrana control their own fate, and Messi matches Raul before Cristiano Ronaldo can.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Lionel Messi notched arguably the most impressive record of his career to date on Wednesday, equaling Raul's tally for goals in the Champions League. He reached 71 in just 90 appearances in the competition, while Raul ended his career on 142 games in the competition.
Ajax actually had the game’s first great chance, but were denied by Marc Andre ter-Stegen. Davy Klaassen tried to pick out the far post with a half-volley in the 26th minute, but the Barcelona goalkeeper made an excellent diving stop. That seemed to serve as a wake-up call for Barca, who were ahead 10 minutes later.
Messi’s first goal of the night came a the result of some calamitous goalkeeping. Just seconds after he’d made an excellent stop on a Messi free kick, Jasper Cillessen inexplicably came off his line in an attempt to win the ball off Marc Bartra. He whiffed, Bartra crossed, and Messi scored on an unguarded net.
It was a bit of a tough day for Luis Suarez, who was the least active of Barca’s impressive front three. He missed a sitter in the 59th minute, shooting right at Cillessen after Messi had played him clear in on goal.
The hosts almost scored an equalizer in the 67th minute when Thulani Serero located substitute Arkadiusz Milik with a gorgeous cross, but the Ajax substitute’s header towards the far post hit off the outside of the upright and went out for a goal kick.
Four minutes later, Ajax played themselves out of the game with a sending off. Joel Veltman picked up a second booking for hauling down Messi as he was about to run free at the goal, and with only 10 men, Ajax struggled.
Messi’s record-setting goal came just five minutes after that, on a close-range tap-in off a cross by Pedro, and it sealed the result for the Blaugrana.
Ajax: Cillessen, Boilesen, Moisander, Veltman (red 71’), van Rhijn, Andersen (Riedewald 72’), Serero (Denswil 80’), Klaassen, Schöne, Sigthorsson (Milik 62’), El Ghazi
Goals: None.
Barcelona: ter Stegen, Alba, Mascherano, Bartra, Alves (Adriano 83’), Busquets, Xavi, Rakitic (Rafinha 80’), Neymar (Pedro 75’), Messi, Suarez
Goals: Messi (36’, 76’)
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