Barcelona could seal their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League when they travel to Viktoria Plzen, where Lionel Messi could also reach the 200-goal mark for the Catalan club.

A Barca victory in the Czech Republic combined with anything other than a win for BATE Borisov over AC Milan in the other Group H match would see the reigning champions secure their berth in the next phase.

Pep Guardiola's men are level on seven points with leaders AC Milan heading into the fourth round of fixtures, with BATE and Plzen propping up the group with just one point apiece.

Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said just prior to his side's departure for Prague: "Before the group stage, the first objective was to qualify. The second objective is to be first, but the most important thing is to get through and be in the draw for the last 16. So a win will mean we can relax a little.''
Zubizarreta is not expecting it to be easy at Eden Stadium though, recalling the first meeting between the two sides at the Nou Camp where Barca needed a late goal from David Villa to seal a 2-0 win.

He added: "The fans there create a lot of pressure. And our opponents have a challenge, which is to beat Barca, something which puts you on the map.

"Viktoria showed us that they are not a team who get daunted, they take risks and they look to create chances. We had a lot of chances in the Nou Camp, but that didn't scare them much either.''

The first meeting between the two sides saw Messi - having netted 16 times in his opening 12 competitive matches for Barca this season - draw a rare blank in front of goal, and it sparked a three-match barren run that led to talk of some sort of goalscoring crisis for the Argentina ace.

However, the 24-year-old responded to that with a hat-trick in the opening half-hour of Saturday's 5-0 league defeat of Real Mallorca - his third treble of the season and 13th overall for Barca.

Speaking after the game, Messi said: "It's crazy to say I was in crisis, just because I'd gone three games without scoring.''

Messi's latest hat-trick saw him move onto 199 competitive goals for Barca and, having climbed above Laszlo Kubala into second place on the club's all-time scoring list earlier this month, he now has Cesar Rodriguez's record of 235 in his sights.

Zubizarreta said of Messi: "His value and talent shouldn't be doubted. If we look at things in terms of mistakes, he's the man who makes the fewest in world football right now.''

Plzen's hopes of securing a top-two berth in Group H look slim after picking up just a point from their opening three games, which came at home to BATE in round one.

They have been in good domestic form recently though, winning their last three games and scoring 12 goals in the process, and midfielder Milan Petrzela believes that is a handy boost heading into the match.

"When you score goals, self-confidence grows and a more confident player certainly helps. You believe in yourself more, plus we have already face them so we know what to expect,'' said Petrzela, who netted in all three of those victories.

"I think this game will be similar to the one in Barcelona. Barcelona will definitely want to win and will come here with the same tactics. They play their football and it will be very demanding physically (for us).''

Match

barca 4 life. another 6-0 anhilation is upon us.

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^^^wow it worked

barca is winning this one

Its Barca all the way. Read more on the champions league on http://mylatestfootballnews..com/

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There's no doubt, another victory for BARCA, more goals for MESSI. keep the fire burning, ma great club, F C BARCELONA!

Game on!!

Barca starting XI: Valdes, Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal, Busquets, Thiago, Cesc, Adriano, Cuenca and Messi.

Valencia 1-0 up vs Leverkusen. Jonas on 16 seconds. That has got to be the 2nd fastest CL goal in history.

No b small tin o 16sec. Damn

^^The fastest goal in CL history is on 10 sec - Roy Makaay(Bayern Munich) vs Real Madrid, 2007.
As for Jonas' aforementioned goal, the commentators just said its unofficial timing stands at 10 seconds.

Gooooal! Messi scores from the spot. Another milestone for the best player in the world. His 200th goal for Barcelona.

Wow! You just can't stop Messi.
2-0

fibregas scores

3- 0 barca

GOOOOOOALLLL!!! Fabregas 3-0. Cuenca with the assist.

midget makes it 4

another hatrick for him

Whoa! What a goal. Messi 4-0. Wonderful backheel from Pique to set up the goal.
Back to back hat-tricks for Messi.
Messi is the best.

Barca too much jare!!   Those boys Thiago and Cuenca will be great and it's nice to see Cesc, Sanchez, Puyol and Pique back! Now unleash Xavi and Iniesta on Milan and tie up the group!!

And then MESSSIIIII!!!

Messi is too much, the boy just can't be stopped, who are those comparing Neyma to him they should stop it, No seize Barca all the way

nothing do u my guy Messi,

messi is nothing without xavi and iniesta. he is trash without them. see how they helped him score 6 goals in the last 2 games. without xavi and iniesta he would not score even one goal.

@ddpiset leave dem, let them yan.shebi xavi and iniesta no play these last 2 games.i believe Cuenca die, na bad smalie

Latest News: Messi has been suspended from football by FIFA, following the discovery by Genetic Scientists that he was cloned from a laboratory. "Superhuman"

drgica74:

Latest News: Messi has been suspended from football by FIFA, following the discovery by Genetic Scientists that he was cloned from a laboratory. "Superhuman"

Just confirmed the news! His real name is Aikhujin Sapalchanizazar, from a newly discovered planet called Fiwonkpa… check it here; www.f^ckthehaters.com/screw the messi haters/alienability

ddippset:

messi is nothing without xavi and iniesta. he is trash without them. see how they helped him score 6 goals in the last 2 games. without xavi and iniesta he would not score even one goal.

Start using your brain this man, How can Messi always has both goals and assists more than Xavi and Iniesta combined at the end of season if he depends on them to perform? Please use your brain and stop beefing Messi

U 4gt to put xavi?

Terrific Messi.

PurestBoy:


Start using your brain this man, How can Messi always has both goals and assists more than Xavi and Iniesta combined at the end of season if he depends on them to perform? Please use your brain and stop beefing Messi

LOL my friend.