Neymar and Lionel Messi maintained their lethal partnership with a goal apiece as Barcelona swept aside Ajax 3-1 in Group F.
The Argentinian was the provider, slipping the ball through for Neymar to hit the opener with a clinical finish into the corner after seven minutes. He then struck midway through the half to put the hosts in control.
Andrés Iniesta threaded the ball through to Messi and his shot from the centre of the penalty area squirmed under the goalkeeper, Jasper Cillessen.
Messi now has 69 Champions League goals, as does Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, two off the all-time leading scorer, Raul.
Anwar El Ghazi pulled back a late goal for Ajax before Sandro Ramírez settled any late jitters for the home side. Barcelona are second in the group behind Paris Saint-Germain, who won 1-0 at Apoel Nicosia.
After a season of adjustment Messi and Neymar are now looking dangerous together with 17 goals between them as they set their sights on Real Madrid in La Liga this Saturday.
“We were very good in the first half and then we dropped off but this is logical because you can’t play at that level for 90 minutes in every game,” the Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique, told a news conference. “The players are not robots, the idea is to reduce the number of errors and be as consistent as possible.”
He also did not feel he made a mistake by bringing off Neymar and Messi. “I would do the same again,” said Luis Enrique. “I am happy with my decision to take the players off, it was my decision. At the end of the game we did make a few mistakes but generally I am happy.”
The Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic said that it was important to get a win and be relaxed ahead of El Clásico.
“It is good to pick up points and keep improving,” he said. “We controlled the game. Now we have time to enjoy this win, rest and then prepare for the important game so that we can win it.”
The Ajax coach, Frank de Boer, a former Barcelona player, felt his players let themselves down in the first half. “I was very angry at halftime because we can play a lot better and we did do a lot better afterwards,” he said.
“We are a young team with quality but we have to show that. They did take three players off looking ahead to El Clásico but we got a goal and after that anything can happen.
“It was just a shame that straight after that they scored again.”
Ivan Rakitic returned for Xavi after being rested for Barcelona’s weekend win over Eibar while, with Sergio Busquets injured, Javier Mascherano again played in central midfield.
Barça moved the ball around patiently and scored with their first dangerous attack. The Ajax defence had no answer to the home side’s speed and movement as Neymar slotted the ball in.
Immediately afterwards it was Messi’s turn and he fired over. But he was not to be denied with his second chance after 24 minutes after more good work from Iniesta who was pulling the strings with finesse in midfield.
As Barcelona continued to press, Messi found Pedro, whose shot came back off the post.
After the restart Messi hit the side netting while at the other end Ricardo van Rhijn shot narrowly wide. Barça then took the steam out of the game, saving themselves for the weekend, before their late flourish.
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