Match ends, Slavia Prague 1, Barcelona 2.
Slavia PragueSlavia Prague1BarcelonaBarcelona2
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
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 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
Formation 4-3-3
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Slavia Prague 1, Barcelona 2.
Post update
Corner, Slavia Prague. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
Post update
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.
Post update
Foul by Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona).
Post update
Vladimir Coufal (Slavia Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
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.
Post update
Corner, Slavia Prague. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
Post update
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.
Post update
Attempt missed. Petr Sevcik (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Josef Husbauer.
Post update
Foul by Luis Suárez (Barcelona).
Post update
Jan Boril (Slavia Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Petr Sevcik.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luis Suárez.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Petr Sevcik (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Stanislav Tecl (Slavia Prague) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Peter Olayinka with a cross.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Josef Husbauer (Slavia Prague) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
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.
Comments
Join the conversation
“Talented yes but to be the greatest you have to prove yourself at other leagues and win the golden prize. “
By your insane logic we can safely dismiss Ryan Giggs as the PL’s best ever left winger, Maldini as one of the greatest defenders of all time.
Ppl like you are one of many factors harming football; the superficial analysis of fast football perpetuated by social media.
Except you refer to peak maradona, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo as better. Their peaks were extremely bright and extremely short. Can they compare with the long term consistency of Messi?
I would also argue his peak was still better than theirs: 2010 - 2012 and then 2014-15 he took out every major team in the world. No-one was safe.
If you have to play in different leagues to be considered greatest then why are you mentioning pele?
Unless playing an unsuccessful season in the USA when you’re 40 counts as “doing it on other leagues”
Silly child
Plus the banana that posted it is saying Messi isn’t the ‘G.O.A.T’ as hasn’t won a World Cup.
I wonder how many World Cups Ronaldo has won, you know as the poster in question stated it was a prerequisite to be classed as the ‘G.O.A.T’?
None you say? Doh...
“ Messi has done (and won) everything he can in Spain, but could he do it on a rainy night in Stoke ? Don't think so”
A Lamborghini wouldn’t win a cross country rally either.
It’s still the finest motor vehicle in the world.
I don’t know why I bother with HYS, I really don’t. Cluttered with the nuggets of “wisdom”.
#HYSexit
Ronaldo is a better athlete, no question, but a better footballer? Never has been and never will be.
Comparing with different eras is tricky though, after all “it was always better in my day”.
Rated £50M by the EPL. Expect a bid over Christmas.
“Talented yes but to be the greatest you have to prove yourself at other leagues“
You're absolutely right, to be the best you need to jump around to different leagues all the time, which is why Romário de Souza Faria is the GOAT.
5 Leagues > Messi and Ronaldo combined.
and to think people use something as arbitrary as career goal/assist statistics...
I bet Woodward is on his phone to his agent right now
At man Utd when they couldn't lose the league if they tried.
At Real won the league and CL often but with a team of Galacticos around him.
Went to Juve, guess what no one in Italy can touch them.
Fair play he's done better internationally but to be honest it says more about Portugal and Argentinas teams than the two players.
Messi is just better, Ronaldos quality but 2nd to Messi.