The 31-year-old Argentine gave his side the lead only in the 3rd minute of the game with a first-time finish to become the first player to score in the Champions League for 15 consecutive seasons.
Lionel Messi (L) getting better every day, according to Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde (R).(Photo: AFP)
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League this season on Thursday’s encounter with Slavia Prague, which the Catalonians won 2-1.
With the goal, Messi added the name of Slavia Prague to the list of clubs he has scored against in Europe’s premier club competition with the total now standing at 33, matching Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid great Raul.
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The 31-year-old Argentine gave his side the lead only in the 3rd minute of the game with a first-time finish to become the first player to score in the Champions League for 15 consecutive seasons.
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Though Messi has scored in 15 seasons in a row, he is still one short of Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs’ record of scoring in 16 different Champions League seasons.
Meanwhile, Barca manager Ernesto Valverde was all praise for his forward Messi saying that he is getting better every day.
“He’s the player who can decide any game. Every day we see him he’s even better,” Valverde was quoted as saying by Goal.
“One more record for the incredible Leo. They are easy to say, it seems natural, but it is very difficult to achieve,” he added.
Talking about the match, the Czech champions in the 50th minute were deservedly level when Jan Boril poked home Lukas Masopust’s pass from 16 yards. But Peter Olayinka, in a bid to stop a shot from Luis Suarez, netted the ball and gave Barca a match-deciding lead in the 57th minute.
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.
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