Barcelona edge minnows to close on knockout stages

Andres Iniesta strikes a fighting pose after scoring for Barcelona in the Nou CampBarcelona ease to 2-0 win over Viktoria Plsen in the Nou CampAndres Iniesta and David Villa with the goals for the European champions AC Milan head Group H after a 2-0 home win over BATE Borisov Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia hold Porto to draw in Group G to top group

(CNN) -- Holders Barcelona made hard work of beating Czech minnows Viktoria Plzen 2-0 in their Champions League Group H clash Wednesday but need just one win to reach the knockout stages.

The Catalan giants were near their fluent best in the Nou Camp but wasted a string of chances after midfielder Andres Iniesta put them ahead early after being set up by Lionel Messi.

Argentine goal machine Messi hit the woodwork twice before David Villa made the game safe with a second eight minutes from time.

It left Barcelona unbeaten in the group, but they trail AC Milan on head-to-head record as the Italians beat BATE Borisov 2-0 in the San Siro.

Both the big guns have seven points with their return clash in the San Siro on November 23 set to decide who goes through as winners of the group.

Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin Prince Boateng ensured an easy night's work for the Rossoneri, but their coach Massimiliano Allegri is already looking ahead to playing Barcelona again after holding them to a draw in the Nou Camp.

"It was an important win tonight to help with qualification, we still need points but our aim is to be playing Barcelona for first place, that would be an important result for the subsequent draw," he told SkySport of Italy.

In Group G, Cypriots APOEL Nicosia held Portugal giants Porto to a 1-1 draw and top a tight section with five points.

Brazilian star Hulk put the home side ahead as he lashed home an early free kick, but six minutes later the visitors were level.

Hulk's fellow Brazilian Ailton found space and produced a 25 meter shot that Helton in the Porto goal could not cover.

Zenit St Petersburg are second in the group, a point behind, after coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk.

Brazilians Willian and Luiz Adriano scored for Shakhtar, while Roman Shirokov and Viktor Faizulin leveled for the Russians.

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Messi double as Barcelona set the pace in Spain

Lionel Messi celebrates yet another goal in the 3-0 win over Racing Santander.Barcelona stay top of Spain's La Liga with easy 3-0 home win over Racing Santander Lionel Messi scores twice to take his season's tally to 16Gonzalo Higuian scores a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Betis 4-1Inter Milan slip to defeat in Serie A and have four points from six games

(CNN) -- Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona beat Racing Santander 3-0 in the Nou Camp Saturday night to stay top of Spain's La Liga.

Messi, hoping for a third consecutive home hat-trick, opened the scoring for Barca in the 11th minute and rounded it off in the 68th. He might have added a further goal but had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the second half.

The Argentine ace now has 16 in another free-scoring season.

Midfielder Xavi scored the second midway through the opening half as the reigning Spanish and European champions cruised to victory against the struggling visitors.

The only blot on their victory was an early injury to central defender Gerard Pique, who has been troubled by a foot problem and limped off after just three minutes to be replaced by Eric Abidal.

They stayed a point clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid, who earlier Saturday beat Real Betis 4-1 with Messi's international teammate Gonzalo Higuain grabbing his second hat-trick in a week.

Higuain, who also scored three for Argentina in a World Cup qualifying victory against Chile, made the breakthrough after the break, set up by Cristiano Ronaldo, playing his 100th match for Real.

Brazilian star Kaka, returning to his best, grabbed the second before Jorge Molina pulled a goal back for Betis.

Higuian quickly made it 3-1 and then completed his hat-trick, both on passes from Angel Di Maria to snuff out any hope of a recovery by the visitors.

Valencia missed out on joining Real Madrid on 16 points after being held 1-1 in Mallorca, while Villarreal warmed up for their crucial Champions League game against Manchester City Tuesday with a 0-0 draw at Getafe.

In Italy, Inter Milan's appalling start to the season continued as they were beaten 2-1 at Catania, leaving them with just four points from six Serie A games this season.

Inter took an early lead through Esteban Cambiasso but Catania hit back with two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half.

Sergio Almiron equalized and Francesco Lodi hit the winner from the penalty spot.

Inter's poor results meant the end of Gian Piero Gasperini short reign, but new coach Claudio Ranieri is also finding positive results difficult to come by.

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