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Barcelona logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 18, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Ajax

4-0

Messi (22', 55', 75'), Pique (69')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Barcelona cruise past Ajax

Lionel Messi scores a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Ajax 4-0 in the Champions League.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona started their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory over Ajax.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates with team mates after scoring the his team's fourth goal against Ajax during their Champions League group match on September 18, 2013© Getty Images

Barcelona commenced the contest with their usual confidence and enjoyed plenty of possession early on, with Cesc Fabregas coming close to an opening goal when he fired an effort over the crossbar.

Ajax threatened to assert some superiority of their own as the first half progressed, but Lionel Messi ended a good spell for the visitors when he curled in a free kick to score his 60th goal in the Champions League.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is congratulated by team mate Dani Alves after scoring the opening goal against Ajax during their Champions League group match on September 18, 2013© Getty Images

The Dutch side had chances to level the scores before the break, with Ricardo van Rhijn testing Victor Valdes with a header from close range.

Valdes was forced into another save just before the interval when he pushed away Lerin Duarte's curled effort.

Barcelona did not take long to double their lead in the second half and it was Messi who found the net again with a powerful strike after beating a couple of defenders by cutting onto his left foot.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the his team's second goal against Ajax during their Champions League group match on September 18, 2013© Getty Images

The hosts added a third in the 69th minute when Neymar picked out Gerard Pique with an inch-perfect cross and the central defender made no mistake with his header.

Messi completed his hat-trick six minutes later by picking up a loose ball inside the box before slotting his third goal of the night into the bottom corner.

Ajax were gifted the opportunity to snatch a consolation goal late on when Javier Mascherano fouled Thulani Sereno inside the box, but Valdes produced another good save to keep out Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's penalty and secure an eye-catching win for the home team.

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Callum Mulvihill
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Lionel Messi and Neymar celebrate a goal against Sevilla on September 14, 2013
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