Messi won and converted a 24th-minute penalty as Marian Cisovski was sent off, added a second just before half-time and, after Cesc Fabregas headed the third, completed his 14th Barca hat-trick in stoppage time. And on a night of landmarks, the 38th minute saw keeper Victor Valdes break Miguel Reina's 39-year-old club record of 824 minutes without conceding a goal. Barca uncharacteristically resorted to long-range shots early in the game, with Messi's effort causing alarm for keeper Roman Pavlik and Thiago Alcantara shooting over. For the Czech side, Milan Petrzela drew a fine save from Valdes and Daniel Kolar fired Frantisek Kolar's cross over. Pavlik saved Fabregas' 30-yard strike but the breakthrough came when Messi netted from the spot after being brought down by Cisovski, who as last man was sent on his way. Pavlik saved from Messi again and youngster Isaac Cuenca curled an effort wide before the busy home keeper made yet another sharp save from the Argentina star. Messi's 201st Blaugrana goal arrived in first-half stoppage time, though, when he exchanged passes with Adriano and finished left-footed low past Pavlik. Fabregas' chip drifted just wide after he was threaded through by Messi early in the second half, and Rajtoral made an excellent last-ditch clearance to deny Messi a tap-in as the same players linked up once more. Magnificent trickery by Cuenca came to nothing as Messi was crowded out on the edge of the box, but both teams then went desperately close to the night's third goal. First Petrzela volleyed Daniel Kolar's cross into the side-netting with Valdes helpless, then Thiago headed Messi's cross against the bar and was unable to connect with the rebound from a prone position. Barca went 3-0 up through Fabregas in the 72nd minute, though, when he arrived unmarked to nod home Cuenca's cross. Guardiola immediately took the opportunity to hand Chile forward Alexis Sanchez his return from a near two-month absence, in place of defender Eric Abidal, and the newcomer had a cross-shot saved by Pavlik. Messi was unable to convert a Sanchez cross which arrived at an awkward height, but his hat-trick arrived in the 92nd minute when he ran onto a backheel from, improbably, centre-half Gerard Pique and finished coolly.
