Match ends, Barcelona 2, Dynamo Kyiv 1.
BarcelonaBarcelona2Dynamo KyivDynamo Kyiv1
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
with an average of 8.17
Dynamo Kyiv
Avg
- Squad number35Player nameNeshcheretAverage rating
8.17
- Squad number94Player nameKedzioraAverage rating
7.00
- Squad number8Player nameShepelevAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number22Player nameRodriguesAverage rating
6.86
- Squad number4Player namePopovAverage rating
6.80
- Squad number17Player nameLyednyevAverage rating
6.55
- Squad number25Player nameZabarnyiAverage rating
6.41
- Squad number15Player nameTsygankovAverage rating
6.29
- Squad number29Player nameBuyalskiyAverage rating
6.29
- Squad number18Player nameAndriyevskyiAverage rating
6.19
- Squad number13Player nameShabanovAverage rating
5.69
- Squad number14Player namede PenaAverage rating
5.50
- Squad number89Player nameSupryahaAverage rating
5.29
- Squad number7Player nameVerbicAverage rating
4.92
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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
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamDynamo Kyiv
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home14
- Away7
- Corners
- Home10
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Dynamo Kyiv 1.
Post update
Attempt saved. Trincão (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Post update
Clément Lenglet (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Denys Popov (Dynamo Kyiv).
Post update
Corner, Dynamo Kyiv. Conceded by Frenkie de Jong.
Post update
Corner, Dynamo Kyiv. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Ousmane Dembélé tries a through ball, but Jordi Alba is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Dynamo Kyiv. Bohdan Lyednyev replaces Vitaliy Buyalskiy.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Carles Aleñá replaces Pedri.
Post update
Corner, Dynamo Kyiv. Conceded by Sergiño Dest.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Ruslan Neshcheret.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Artem Shabanov.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 2, Dynamo Kyiv 1. Viktor Tsygankov (Dynamo Kyiv) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt saved. Benjamin Verbic (Dynamo Kyiv) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Trincão replaces Ansu Fati.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Clément Lenglet replaces Sergio Busquets.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Dynamo Kyiv. Carlos de Pena replaces Gerson Rodrigues.
