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Messi on course to Barca record

Comment: 0 September 29th, 2011 by: admin

LIONEL Messi cemented his place in the history of Barcelona as the Catalan side firmed up their title-retention bid in the Champions League by swamping BATE Borisov 5-0 on Wednesday.

The talismanic Argentine striker shone on a rainy night in Minsk as he scored twice to raise his goal production with Barca to 194 and tie Hungarian legend Ladislao Kubala at second place in the club’s list of leading scorers.

With his current form, the 24-year-old Messi is expected to become Barca’s all-time scoring best as only Cesar Rodriguez, who made 235 goals in the post-Civil War era – is still ahead of him.

The Catalans completely outplayed the Belarus league leaders at the Dinamo Stadium to post their first win in Group H after their anemic draw with Milan recently.

“I am very happy to have equalled a man who was so important in the history of Barcelona,’’ said Messi. “I just played like always, not thinking about scoring goals.’’

In another game, former champions AC Milan subdued newcomers Viktoria Plzen 2-0, to join Barca on top.

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard returned to the starting eleven and scored in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw in Valencia, while Arsenal tamed visiting Olympiakos Piraeus 2-1

The Gunners, who shot ahead early with an 8^th minute strike from teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on his European debut, now have 4 points in Group F behind Olympique Marseille who kept their perfect start following a 3-0 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund.

New Chelsea acquisition Juan Mata impressed at his old home in Valencia after Lampard’s opening brace before substitute Salomon Kalou handled to give Valencia a chance to fight back with an 87^th-minute penalty shot from Roberto Soldado.

The Blues are now atop Group E with 4 points, 1 ahead of Bayer Leverkusen who downed visitors Racing Genk 2-0. Former Chelsea player Michael Ballack made a stoppage-time goal for Leverkusen after Lars bender hand one in the first half.

In the other fixtures of the night, Zenit St. Petersburg trounced 10-man Porto 3-1 in Group G with Roman Shirokov converting a double in Russia, while also in the same group, Shakthar Donetsk levelled 1-1 at home with APOEL Nicosia.

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