Barcelona’s Champions League hopes are kept alive thanks to a Piqué goal.
Defending champions Barcelona defeated Dynamo Kyiv, 1-0, thanks to a goal from Gerard Piqué, who tied a Champions League scoring record for defenders with his strike.
The Associated Press reports from Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona defeated Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 on Wednesday to halt its losing skid and return to the European competition’s knockout round thanks to a goal from Gerard Piqué, who tied the Champions League scoring record for defenders.
Barcelona was in danger of missing out on the knockout stages for the first time since the 2000-01 season before Piqué netted his 16th Champions League goal to secure a critical win.
As a result of the win, FC Barcelona moved up to third place in Group E, one point behind Dynamo and two points behind Benfica.
At this point in the season, Barcelona had won only one in its previous six games across all competitions.
Since 1997, the team had gone five games without a victory in Champions League play.
In the Champions League, it had lost three straight games at home, the worst streak of any team’s history in the European competition.
Pique joined former Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos in scoring with a one-timer from close range in the 36th minute after Jordi Alba’s cross over the box. In terms of goals, Piqué shared a three-way tie with former Madrid center backs Sergio Ramos and Iván Helguera.
With his goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2008, Piqué became the oldest Catalan club player to score in the Champions League.
Memphis Depay was replaced in the 75th minute by striker Sergio Aguero, who made his second appearance for Barcelona since signing from Manchester City earlier in the season.
Since 1997-98, the Catalans have never lost more than two games in a row in the group stage.
In their first match, Dynamo drew with Benfica at home before going down to Bayern 5-0, matching their worst defeat in a UEFA club competition.
Barcelona will play Real Madrid in the Spanish league “clásico” on Sunday at Camp Nou.
In November, it will go to Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League.
The match at Camp Nou Stadium drew a very small crowd of 45,000 people on Wednesday.
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Piqué scores keeps Barcelona alive in Champions League
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