AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring against Viktoria Plzen in their Champions League Group H match at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan on Wednesday. Stefano Rellandini / Reuters

MANCHESTER, England - Holders Barcelona barely broke a sweat in a ruthless 5-0 hammering of BATE Borisov, while former champion AC Milan made harder work of finding the net before overcoming new boy Viktoria Plzen 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi drew level with Ladislau Kubala as Barca's second highest scorer of all time thanks to a double in a dominant performance on a rainy night in Minsk as the Spaniards went joint top of Group H along with Milan.

Seven-time champion Milan needed second-half goals to break the deadlock against Czech side Plzen at the San Siro with Zlatan Ibrahimovic converting a 53rd-minute penalty and setting up Antonio Cassano for the second 13 minutes later.

On a good night for former European champions, Olympique Marseille distanced itself from a poor domestic campaign to demolish Borussia Dortmund 3-0 as the German champion matched its lackluster early Bundesliga form.

"It was not perfect, but we've got six points," was the verdict of Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, who watched a sour end to the game when substitute Jordan Ayew was sent off in stoppage time, picking up a second yellow card for diving

Brother and Ghana forward Andre Ayew scored twice for the host, and France striker Loic Remy got the other as it maintained its perfect start in Group F, where it has a two-point lead over second-place Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger's side enjoyed a better outcome to fellow English club Chelsea in nervy endings to their games, holding on to an early lead to beat Olympiakos Piraeus 2-1, while Andre Villas-Boas' men conceded a late penalty to draw 1-1 in Valencia.

Many miles away in Belarus, Barcelona made no such meal of its early lead as the champion seemed to barely let the host touch the ball.

BATE helped Barca on its way with Aleksandr Volodko's 19th-minute own goal, and a header from Pedro followed three minutes later.

Argentine World Player of the Year Messi headed in just before the break and smashed a fourth high into the net to reach 194 club goals. Still aged 24, Messi is now only 41 goals behind top scorer Cesar Rodriguez.

"As Pep Guardiola said at the weekend (after Messi scored a hattrick against Atletico Madrid), we are watching history being made so we should try and enjoy it, because we know it will be very difficult to see another player like him," Barca's Javier Mascherano said.

David Villa wrapped up the scoring against BATE, who, despite effectively playing 10 at the back, could not contain Barca's effortless class.

Back in Spain, Barca's La Liga rival Valencia was anything but effortless against Chelsea, looking nervous despite its home advantage. It fell behind on a Frank Lampard first-time strike in the 56th minute.

The English side had plenty of chances to go further ahead but instead wiped out all its good work when substitute Salomon Kalou needlessly flapped an arm at a Valencia cross and the referee pointed to the spot with three minutes left.

Roberto Soldado struck the ball in low for the equalizer as Chelsea watched the three points evaporate on Juan Mata's return to his old stomping ground.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 09/30/2011 page24)