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Champions League: Lionel Messi gets goal and assist, Barcelona advance

By Alex Butler
Luuk de Jong of PSV in duel with Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (C) during the UEFA Champions League group stage match between PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona on Wednesday in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Photo by Robin Van Lonkhuijsen EPA-EFE
Luuk de Jong of PSV in duel with Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (C) during the UEFA Champions League group stage match between PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona on Wednesday in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Photo by Robin Van Lonkhuijsen EPA-EFE

Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Lionel Messi had a beautiful goal and precise assist to help Barcelona beat PSV Eindhoven and win Group B in the Champions League Wednesday in the Netherlands.

Barcelona left a 2-1 victory at Philips Stadion in Eindhoven. The squads played a scoreless first half before netting the three goals in the final 30 minutes.

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Messi's strike broke the scoreless tie in the 61st minute. Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembele performed a give-and-go with Messi just outside the PSV box on the play. He slid the final offering to Messi in the top right corner of the box.

Messi wiggled and dribbled through a crowd of defenders before sending a shot into the near-post netting, surprising PSV keeper Jeroen Zoet.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had the helper on the Barcelona's next score, which came off the boot of Gerard Pique nine minutes later. Messi set up for a free kick from about 35 yards out during that sequence. He lofted the ball through the box, curving it onto Pique's boot. The Barcelona defender tapped the ball past Zoet for a two-goal advantage.

Luuk de Jong netted PSV's lone tally in the 82nd minute. Left back Angelino ran onto a through ball on the left side of the pitch during that possession. He used his first touch to loft a cross to the center of the box, finding de Jong for a header into the far-post netting.

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The draw for the Champions League's round of 16 is on Dec. 17.

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