Barca Routs Borisov 5 - 0

Last night, FC Barcelona began its defence of the Champion's League cup in Minsk against Ukrainian champions BATE Borisov in the opening round of this year's Champion's League competition.

According to FOX News Latino,

"Lionel Messi scored once in each half as Barcelona routed BATE Borisov 5-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday for the defending champions' first victory in Group H.

With his double, Messi joined Laszlo Kubala as Barcelona's second all-time leading scorer with 194 goals.

''I am very happy to have equaled a man who was so important in the history of this club,'' Messi said. ''I knew that I could match Kubala, but I didn't go out tonight thinking about scoring goals, nothing of the sort, just playing like always.''

Barcelona took advantage of the hosts' defensive errors to cruise to a comfortable win.

An own goal by BATE midfielder Aleksandr Volodko put Barcelona ahead before Pedro Rodriguez and Messi sent the Spanish giants into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

Messi got his second just after the restart with a cracking strike from inside the area, and David Villa capped the win in the 90th.

The 24-year-old Messi, now in his eighth season, has the chance to surpass Kubala on Sunday at Sporting Gijon in the Spanish league. Kubala played for Barca for a decade from 1951.

Barcelona's top scorer Cesar Rodriguez scored 235 goals from 1942-55. If Messi keeps scoring at the same rate he did last season, he could pass that mark before this campaign is over.

''(Messi) has equaled a legendary player for Barcelona, and he has done it at just 24 years old. I can't say anything more, only congratulate him,'' Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. ''The only way that he won't catch Cesar is if he leaves.''

Barcelona has four points, even with AC Milan after the Italians beat Viktoria Plzen 2-0."