Arkadiusz Milik saw his diving header rebound off Ter Stegen’s right-hand post shortly after the hour, but Ajax’s comeback hopes were dented when Veltman was shown a second yellow card for bringing Messi down, having previously been booked for a foul on Neymar in the first half.
The visitors didn’t waste much time before capitalising on their extra man when Messi got his second goal of the night, the 71st of his career equalling the legendary Raul Gonzalez as the all-time top goal scorer in the history of the competition.
La pulga got on the end of Pedro’s cross from the right and produced a perfect finish on the 76th minute as Barca provided the perfect answer to back-to-back La Liga defeats. The Argentine could have gotten a hat-trick but was denied by Ajax keeper.
AFC AJAX 0-2 FC BARCELONA
Goals: Messi 36′, 76′
Assists: Bartra, Pedro
Yellow Cards: Mascherano, J. Alba, D. Alves (Barcelona), Anwar El-Ghazi, J. Veltman, Niclas Moisander (Ajax)
Red Card: Joel Veltman
LINE UPS
Ajax: Jasper Cillessen; Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Boilesen; Klaassen, Andersen (80′ Riedawald), Serero (83′ Denswil), Sigthorsson (62′ Milik); Schoene, El-Ghazi
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves (83′ Adriano), Mascherano, Bartra, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Rakitic (80′ Rafinha); Suarez, Messi, Neymar (75′ Pedro)
This post was last modified on December 14, 2018 9:54 am
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