APOEL 0-4 Barcelona: Neymar rests and Messi sets a new record

Posted by: neydmin Posted date: November 25, 2014 In: Neymar news | comment : 0

Full-time: APOEL 0-4 Barcelona
Goals: Suárez (27′), Messi (37′, 58′, 86′)
Match date: November 25, 2014
Stadium: GSP Stadium
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Barcelona line-up: Bravo, Jordi Alba, Bartra, Piqué, Daniel Alves, Mascherano, Rakitic, Rafinha, Pedro, Lionel Messi, Suárez.

Coming into this Tuesday’s night game with their passage already assured, Barcelona took on APOEL and easily beat them by 0-4 in their own home ground. Luis Enrique decided to bench Neymar and give the Brazilian star some rest, but the Blaugranas showed no trouble in finding the back of the net.

The opening goal was scored by Luis Suárez, when the former Liverpool forward displayed all his talent and class by nutmetting a defender with a back-heel touch, right before finishing off with a curled shot away from the goalkeeper’s reach. The Uruguayan is yet to score a goal in the Spanish League, but he’s certainly proving to be capable of delivering a great work rate in favor of the team…

Shortly after Suárez goal, Cyprus witnessed another impressive record-breaking achievement produced by Lionel Messi. The Argentinian made the 0-2 in the 37th minute, after deflecting a shot from Rafinha when he was already standing very near to the 6-yard box. At that moment and by scoring his 72th goal in the competition, Messi broke Raúl‘s 71-goal record in the Champions League.

The 27-year old wouldn’t stop there though and he added another to his tally in the 58th minute, after being brilliantly assisted by Daniel Alves and beating APOEL‘s goalkeeper with a soft right-foot touch. There would still be time for Messi to complete his hat-trick in another memorable night and it ended up happening 4 minutes before the end of regular time. Pedro assisted Messi inside the box and the Argentinian easily pushed the bacl into the back of the net to celebrate his 74th goal in the competition.

Sources: fcbarcelona.com / espnfc.com