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European Champions League

Ajax 0 - Barcelona 2

Ajax: Cillessen; Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Boilesen; Klaassen, Serero (Denswil 80’), Andersen (Riedewald 72’); El Ghazi, Sigthorsson (Milik 62’), Schöne. 4-3-3.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dani Alves (Adriano 83‘), Marc Bartra, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Rakitic (Rafinha 80’), Busquets, Xavi; Luis Suárez, Messi, Neymar (Pedro 74’). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 36. Messi. Bounced header in to net after Bartra lifted ball across area.
0-2. 76. Messi. Got on the end of Pedro cross to slide shot wide of Cillessen.

Barcelona are the second Spanish side through to the knock-out stage after a 0-2 victory at Ajax on Wednesday evening. Neymar had an early strike ruled out for offside, but otherwise the locals dominated the early minutes, Schöne shooting wide and Ter Stegen having to save from Klaassen. With half an hour gone though Cillessen had to be at his best to keep out Jordi Alba, and soon afterwards Barça won a free kick on the edge of the area. The Dutch keeper did well to save Messi’s shot, but the ball was played back in to the area, and Bartra got won the ball off Cillessen and hooked it over for Messi to steer a bouncing header in to the net. Neymar hit the post after the restart and Luis Suárez got through twice, only to shoot at the keeper the first time and then try to pass to a colleague the second. Xavi (matching the 144 appearances of Casillas) also saw his shot saved by Cillessen, but Milik wasted a chance to level the scores when he steered a header against the outside of the post when free on goal. Soon afterwards the Dutch side were left with ten men when Veltman picked up a second booking (as he did against Barça last season), and with a quarter of an hour to go Messi got on the end of Pedro’s return pass to slide in his second of the night, equaling Raúl’s all time Champions League record of 71. Luis Enrique’s side are still only second in their group however, and need to win their next game against leaders Paris Saint Germain to tie up top spot.