Match ends, Slavia Prague 1, Barcelona 2.
Slavia Prague 1-2 Barcelona: Lionel Messi breaks another record in narrow win
- From the section European Football
Lionel Messi became the first player to score in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons as Barcelona claimed a narrow win at Slavia Prague.
Captain Messi gave Barca an early lead with a first-time finish after an exchange of passes with Arthur.
The Czech champions were deservedly level when Jan Boril poked home Lukas Masopust's pass from 16 yards.
But Messi's free-kick found Luis Suarez at the back post - and his cross-shot hit went in off Peter Olayinka.
Barcelona, who are top of La Liga, have now won six consecutive games in all competitions.
The result keeps Ernesto Valverde's side top of Group F on seven points from three games, three points above Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund.
Those two sides met at the San Siro in the group's other game, with Inter winning 2-0. Lautaro Martinez scored and had a penalty saved before Antonio Candreva's late clinching goal.
Barca were fortunate to go three points clear at the top - with Slavia deserving more from the game.
The Prague side had more shots - and efforts on target - than Barcelona, most notably a 60-second spell when Marc-Andre ter Stegen got down low to deny Lukas Masopust and then tipped Olayinka's curling effort over the bar.
Barca were hanging on at the end, with Tomas Soucek and Olayinka having headers saved in injury time.
Slavia were the 33rd side Messi has scored against in the Champions League - a joint record with Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul.
While he has scored in 15 seasons in a row, the Argentine is still one short of Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs' record of scoring in 16 different Champions League seasons.
The captain could have scored more but was denied by keeper Ondrej Kolar before shooting wide from close range.
Line-ups
Slavia Prague
- 1Kolar
- 5Coufal
- 15Kudela
- 2Hovorka
- 18BorilBooked at 64mins
- 23SevcikBooked at 76mins
- 22Soucek
- 12ZelenySubstituted forTeclat 45'minutes
- 7StanciuSubstituted forHusbauerat 77'minutes
- 28MasopustBooked at 56minsSubstituted forVan Burenat 76'minutes
- 9OlayinkaBooked at 71mins
Substitutes
- 3Holes
- 10Husbauer
- 11Tecl
- 14Van Buren
- 21Skoda
- 25Frydrych
- 31Kovar
Barcelona
- 1ter Stegen
- 2Nélson Semedo
- 3Piqué
- 15Lenglet
- 18AlbaBooked at 35mins
- 21de Jong
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forVidalat 78'minutes
- 8ArthurSubstituted forRakiticat 84'minutes
- 10Messi
- 9Suárez
- 17GriezmannSubstituted forDembéléat 69'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 4Rakitic
- 6Todibo
- 11Dembélé
- 13Murara Neto
- 22Vidal
- 24Firpo
- 31Fati
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 19,170
Match Stats
Home TeamSlavia PragueAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away9
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Slavia Prague 1, Barcelona 2.
Corner, Slavia Prague. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
Attempt blocked. Josef Husbauer (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Petr Sevcik.
Booking
Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona).
Vladimir Coufal (Slavia Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Petr Sevcik with a cross.
Corner, Slavia Prague. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
Attempt saved. Tomas Soucek (Slavia Prague) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jan Boril with a cross.
Attempt missed. Petr Sevcik (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Josef Husbauer.
Foul by Luis Suárez (Barcelona).
Jan Boril (Slavia Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Petr Sevcik.
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luis Suárez.
Attempt blocked. Petr Sevcik (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Stanislav Tecl (Slavia Prague) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Peter Olayinka with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Josef Husbauer (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Mick Van Buren (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Josef Husbauer.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Ivan Rakitic replaces Arthur.
Attempt missed. Josef Husbauer (Slavia Prague) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé.
Attempt blocked. Jan Boril (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josef Husbauer.
Foul by Arturo Vidal (Barcelona).
Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Arturo Vidal replaces Sergio Busquets.
Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tomas Soucek (Slavia Prague).
Substitution
Substitution, Slavia Prague. Josef Husbauer replaces Nicolae Stanciu.
Foul by Nélson Semedo (Barcelona).
Stanislav Tecl (Slavia Prague) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Slavia Prague. Mick Van Buren replaces Lukas Masopust.
Booking
Petr Sevcik (Slavia Prague) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague).
Foul by Nélson Semedo (Barcelona).
Tomas Soucek (Slavia Prague) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
