AP

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's second goal during their Group F Champions League match against AFC Ajax at ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, yesterday. Barcelona own 2-0.

AMSTERDAM (AP): Lionel Messi's brace gave Barcelona a 2-0 victory yesterday over 10-man Ajax and moved him level with Raul Gonzalez's all-time Champions League scoring record of 71 goals.

Messi scored his 70th Champions League goal in the 36th minute with a soft header after Ajax failed to clear a free kick and linked with substitute Pedro Rodriguez for his second on the night in the 76th.

The win assured Barcelona of qualification for the knockout stage of Europe's top club competition as Paris Saint-Germain beat APOEL Nicosia 1-0 to stay top of Group F.

Ajax played the last 20 minutes with 10 men after defender Joel Veltman was sent off for his second yellow card. Veltman also was red carded last year when Ajax beat Barcelona 2-1 in Amsterdam.

"The record wasn't the goal for today, that was the three points that qualified us for the next round and that's why we are leaving feeling happy," Messi told Canal Plus television.

"We played against a team that plays football well and, if you let them, move you from one side of the pitch to the other. It was difficult for us to pressure them because of their mobility, but we took advantage of the chances we got. Later, they went down to 10, but in general the match was even."

Messi notched his record-leveling goals in his 90th match in Europe's top club competition. Former Real Madrid and Schalke striker Raul took 142 matches to reach his tally.

His strikes came a night after Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 70 Champions League goals, failed to find the net in Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Liverpool.