Barcelona registered three wins from three in the Champions League as they beat a depleted Dynamo Kyiv to go top of Group G.
Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot inside five minutes and Gerard Pique headed home to secure an unconvincing victory.
Messi is yet to score a goal from open play this season.
A consolation tap-in goal was a deserved reward for a spirited performance from Kyiv.
Dynamo Kyiv fielded a significantly depleted side, with only 13 first-team players travelling to Spain along with a further six youth players. Six players had tested positive for coronavirus at the Ukrainian club before the tie.
It was an uncomfortable night for Barcelona, who struggled to assert themselves in the second half despite enjoying the lion’s share of the possession.
A valiant performance from 18-year-old Kyiv goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret on his first-team debut ensured the goal deficit was held to just one.
Barcelona dominated for the opening 20 minutes and it seemed it would be a routine performance for Ronald Koeman’s side, who have struggled to find form in La Liga but won both of their other group matches in Europe comfortably.
Kyiv were tenacious and captain Viktor Tsygankov’s 75th-minute goal made for a nervy finish to a tricky night for Barca, who looked ill at ease for large periods.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was involved more than expected between the Barcelona sticks as he made his first appearance since recovering from a knee injury.
Kyiv face another challenge in their next match in the Ukrainian Premier League against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Messi – trouble in front of goal?
Barcelona’s star man Messi has failed to score from open play so far this season, despite featuring in every match for the Catalan side.
In fact, Messi has registered just one goal in six La Liga matches, a penalty against Villarreal. A considerable drought for someone who has scored 445 goals in his 16-year Barcelona career.
It’s been a turbulent few months for the Argentine after handing in a transfer request hoping to leave the Nou Camp, culminating in some unpleasant rumours and the eventual decision to stay at the Spanish giants.
Granted, Barcelona are going through a period of change and it is not just Messi who is struggling to find form – Barcelona are 12th in La Liga with just eight points from six matches.
But the 33-year-old forward can often be relied upon to provide a moment of ‘Messi magic’ just when it’s needed – something which, this season, he has so far been unable to do.
Player of the match
NeshcheretRuslan Neshcheret
Dynamo Kyiv
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Squad number35Player nameNeshcheret
Average rating8.17
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Squad number94Player nameKedziora
Average rating7.00
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Squad number8Player nameShepelev
Average rating6.88
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Squad number22Player nameRodrigues
Average rating6.86
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Squad number4Player namePopov
Average rating6.80
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Squad number17Player nameLyednyev
Average rating6.55
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Squad number25Player nameZabarnyi
Average rating6.41
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Squad number15Player nameTsygankov
Average rating6.29
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Squad number29Player nameBuyalskiy
Average rating6.29
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Squad number18Player nameAndriyevskyi
Average rating6.19
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Squad number13Player nameShabanov
Average rating5.69
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Squad number14Player namede Pena
Average rating5.50
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Squad number89Player nameSupryaha
Average rating5.29
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Squad number7Player nameVerbic
Average rating4.92
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Line-ups
Barcelona
- 1ter Stegen
- 2Dest
- 3Piqué
- 21de Jong
- 18Alba
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forLengletat 74′minutes
- 8PjanicSubstituted forRobertoat 60′minutes
- 10Messi
- 16GonzálezSubstituted forAleñáat 83′minutes
- 22FatiSubstituted forMachado Trincãoat 74′minutes
- 7GriezmannSubstituted forDembéléat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Aleñá
- 9Braithwaite
- 11Dembélé
- 12Puig
- 13Murara Neto
- 15Lenglet
- 17Machado Trincão
- 20Roberto
- 24Firpo
- 26Peña
Dynamo Kyiv
- 35Neshcheret
- 94Kedziora
- 25Zabarnyi
- 4Popov
- 13Shabanov
- 8Shepelev
- 18Andriyevskyi
- 15Tsygankov
- 29BuyalskiyBooked at 70minsSubstituted forLyednyevat 86′minutes
- 22RodriguesSubstituted forde Penaat 71′minutes
- 89SupryahaSubstituted forVerbicat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Verbic
- 14de Pena
- 17Lyednyev
- 27da Silveira da Silva
- 31Rusyn
- 34Syrota
- 45Ihnatenko
- 51Morgun
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Barcelona 2, Dynamo Kyiv 1.
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Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Dynamo Kyiv 1.
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Attempt saved. Trincão (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
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Clément Lenglet (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Denys Popov (Dynamo Kyiv).
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Corner, Dynamo Kyiv. Conceded by Frenkie de Jong.
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Corner, Dynamo Kyiv. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
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Offside, Barcelona. Ousmane Dembélé tries a through ball, but Jordi Alba is caught offside.
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Substitution, Dynamo Kyiv. Bohdan Lyednyev replaces Vitaliy Buyalskiy.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Carles Aleñá replaces Pedri.
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Corner, Dynamo Kyiv. Conceded by Sergiño Dest.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Ruslan Neshcheret.
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Attempt saved. Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Artem Shabanov.
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Goal! Barcelona 2, Dynamo Kyiv 1. Viktor Tsygankov (Dynamo Kyiv) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Benjamin Verbic (Dynamo Kyiv) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Trincão replaces Ansu Fati.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Clément Lenglet replaces Sergio Busquets.
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Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Substitution, Dynamo Kyiv. Carlos de Pena replaces Gerson Rodrigues.
