Lionel Messi became the first player to score in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons. In a match played at Sinobo Stadium, Barcelona claimed a narrow win against their rivals, Slavia Prague.
Lionel Messi gave Barcelona an early lead with a first-time finish after an exchange of pass with Arthur.
The Czech champions were at the rightfull 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 off Peter Olayinka.
Barcelona is at the top of La Liga. The club has now won six consecutive games in all competitions.
These results keeps Ernesto Valverde’s side top of Group F on seven points from three games, three points above Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund.
The two sides met at the San Siro in the group’s other games with Inter winning 2-0. Lautaro Martinez scored and had a penalty saved before Antonio Candreva’s late clinching goal.
Barcelona was fortunate to go three points clear at the top with Slavia deserving more from the game.
Slavia had more shots and efforts on target than Barcelona did. Most notably, a 60-second spell when Marc-Andre ter Stegen got down to deny Lukas Masopust and then tipped Olayinka’s curling effort over the bar.
Barcelona hanged at the end with Tomas Soucek and Olayinka having headers saved in injury time.
Slavia became the 33rd side Messi has scored against in the Champions League. A joint record with Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul.
While he scored in 15 seasons in a row, the Argentine is still one short of Manchester United legend, Ryan Giggs’ record of scoring 16 different Champions League seasons.
The captain could have scored more but was denied by keeper Ondrej Kolar before shooting wide from close range.