Champions League - Barcelona ease past Dynamo

Eurosport - Wed, 30 Sep 07:50:00 2009

Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez were both on target as Barcelona eased past Dynamo Kiev with an impressive 2-0 Champions League victory at the Camp Nou.

FOOTBALL Barcelona's Eric Abidal, Carles Puyol and Dynamo Kiev's Artem Milevskiy fight for the ball during their Champions League match at the Camp Nou in Barcelona - 0

The Argentinian superstar opened the scoring in the 26th minute before sub Pedro wrapped the game up with fourteen minutes remaining.

The result means the reigning champions top Group F, following Italian rivals Internazionale's earlier 1-1 draw with Rubin Kazan.

Despite Dynamo's poor away record in the Champions League, Magrao fired the first shot for the Ukranian side with a strike that flew well wide of Victor Valdes's goal.

However, the visitors flattered to deceive as they fell back in numbers and the champions took full advantage when Andres Iniesta forced Yevhen Khacheridi into a pinpoint tackle in the box.

In a rare foray at the other end, Valdes' poor punch caused panic in the Barcelona defence and as the ball was delivered across the box, Ayilia Yussuf just failed to get on the end.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was determined to pick up the mantle vacated by the injured Thierry Henry with a mazy run that left three defenders in his wake, before Lionel Messi finally broke the deadlock.

Allowed too much room on the Dynamo left, he cut inside and fired inside the near post with a shot that Oleksandr Shovkovskiy should have stopped.

However, the Dynamo keeper soon redeemed himself with fine saves to deny both Ibrahimovic and Messi, and the Ukranians felt they had equalised with five minutes remaining when Artem Milevskiy bundled the ball home, only to be flagged offside.

Ibrahimovic began the second period in the same vein with a header that found Shovkovskiy well-placed, and as Dynamo struggled to get out of their half, Messi was a constant thorn in Dynamo's left side.

The only surprise was that it took until the 76th minute to make the game safe.

Messi was again allowed to drift across the Dynamo box and as he drew three defenders, his pass to Ibrahimovic was instantly laid off to Pedro and the substitute superbly curled the ball past Shovkovskiy to claim the three points.

Ian Hare / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 11 of 11

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  1. valdes is a great shot stopper man one of the best in­ europe he is just sloppy in the air but i have faith in­ him

    From Varnavas P, on Wed 30 Sep 6:12PM
  2. in valdes we believe. sometimes,human do make mistakes.

    From eevernc, on Wed 30 Sep 7:12AM
  3. The final score should be 13-0. I don't understand­ why Barca be so kind nowadays??

    From mun c, on Wed 30 Sep 5:07AM
  4. good job barca

    From bengoh91, on Wed 30 Sep 2:11AM
  5. Valdes, dont mess up Barca defence.. already twice in a­ row..!

    From carlamms, on Wed 30 Sep 1:55AM
  6. efficient as usual!

    From gorka, on Wed 30 Sep 12:45AM
  7. Its wasn't an easy victory but a win nonetheless.­ Lets keep up the good work lads. Next up Rubin.

    From carlos c, on Tue 29 Sep 10:56PM
  8. good job barca!!

    From Varnavas P, on Tue 29 Sep 10:11PM
  9. BARCA will have the day going by thier present squad

    From Akeme, on Mon 28 Sep 8:43PM
  10. BARCA will have the day going by thier present squad

    From Akeme, on Mon 28 Sep 8:43PM
  11. Barca will destroy Dinamo Kiev.

    From Indonoob, on Mon 28 Sep 5:40PM
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