Barcelona: Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal in European competitions as Barcelona moved close to qualifying for the Champions League knock-out stages by outclassing Olympiakos 3-1 Wednesday despite playing the second half with 10 men.
Gerard Pique was sent off two minutes before half-time for two bookings, one for tugging an opponent’s shirt and the other for slapping the ball into the net, but Barca were barely threatened by a hapless Olympiakos side who are badly under-performing in their Greek title defence.
Barca took the lead in the 18th minute at a rainswept and sparsely attended Nou Camp when visiting defender Dimitrios Nikolaou turned Gerard Deulofeu’s cross into his own net. It was the fifth own goal Barca have benefited from this season in all competitions.
Messi struck his landmark goal in Europe from a free-kick in the 61st minute to double Barca’s lead. It was his 97th goal in the Champions League. His other three came in the UEFA Super Cup. The Argentine took his tally to 15 goals in all competitions less than two months into the campaign.
Messi then carved his way through the hapless visiting defence moments later to tee up France left back Lucas Digne to score his first goal in the Champions League for Barca.
Nikolaou, 19, headed home from a corner to give Olympiakos a scantly-deserved consolation goal in the 89th minute.
The unbeaten Barca top Group D with nine points. A win at Olympiakos in two weeks will seal their place in the last 16.
Agencies
