Barcelona ensured they will reach the Champions League knockout stage as Group B winners with victory at PSV.

The Spanish side had already qualified for the last 16 but sealed top spot with a Lionel Messi strike and Gerard Pique's clever second.

Pique stabbed into the bottom corner in what looked like a planned move from Messi's swept delivery, after the Argentine fired home through a crowd.

Luuk de Jong scored a late consolation for PSV, who missed a host of chances.After the game, Pique said that the build-up to his goal was "practiced", but Messi later suggested there was an element of luck involved, as he denied the defender's claim.

"It was not rehearsed," Messi said. "That's a lie.

"It was a badly taken free-kick, Pique was there and the goal was just lucky."

The Dutch side hit the frame of Barca's goal four times before finally finding the net, with the five-time European champions repeatedly exposed at the back.

It led to a nervy end to the match for Barca, and Denzel Dumfries had a strong injury-time penalty shout turned down after Clement Lenglet appeared to catch him in the box with a clumsy challenge.

Source: bbc.com

BDST: 1231 HRS, NOV 29, 2018

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