Barcelona overcome PSV Eindhoven to top Group B

The game finished 2-1 to Barcelona as the Catalan giants secured top spot in Group B.

Messi, 31, netted the opening goal which proved to be the 106th of his Barcelona career, overtaking Ronaldo's tally of 105 for Real Madrid.

Their final match of the group stage is at home to Mauricio Pochettino's side on Tuesday, 11 December, when Inter host bottom side PSV.

He then assisted the club's second, finding Gerard Pique on a free kick to double the Spanish side's advantage and all but seal the top spot in their Champions League group.

Despite winning the game, Barca spent large parts of the match on the back foot.

"We wanted to win the group and we've managed to do that, despite the difficulty of the sides we've faced", the coach said. They will undoubtedly field a very good team and want to win this game as well.

PSV unlucky not to go into the break at least one goal in front after twice hitting the frame of the goal.

It was Barcelona thanking their lucky stars just before halftime, though, when De Jong's header from a free-kick came off the crossbar and the follow-up from close-range by Denzel Dumfries struck the post. We gifted them too many counter-attacks and free kicks and they had a lot of chances.

"We had problems with De Jong, he is tough to defend", Valverde said.

PSV coach Mark van Bommel - himself a Champions League victor with Barcelona in his playing days - started with his regular lineup that has won all 13 of its Dutch Eredivisie matches this season but failed to register a victory in the Champions League.

Don't expect history to give way when FC Barcelona takes on PSV Eindhoven.

Ronaldo collected his fifth award previous year, but appears unlikely to retain his crown and move ahead of bitter rival Messi.

Barcelona has won its Champions League group a record 20 times, and only a dramatic reversal of form will keep the Blaugrana from adding to its prestigious mark.