Barcelona vs. Ajax: Champions League Live Score, Highlights, Recap

Barcelona 4-0 Ajax, UEFA Champions League Group Stage

Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

If debutant Neymar was the pre-match story, the game itself was all about Lionel Messi. The Argentine scored the 27th hat-trick of his career to match Cristiano Ronaldo's tally from last night and set Barcelona up for a comfortable victory.

Ajax were never really in the game and were troubled by Barcelona throughout, with Neymar a constant thorn in their side. The Brazilian handed right-back Ricardo van Rhijn a torrid evening and earned himself an assist for a delightful cross that found Pique in the area for Barcelona's third.

Victor Valdes impressed in the Barcelona goal, saving a late penalty from Kolbeinn Sigthorsson to maintain the Catalans clean sheet, after Javier Mascherano clumsily brought down substitute Thulani Serero.

But, it was Messi whose contribution ultimately made the difference, curling home a free-kick in the first-half before finishing two more attacks with his wonderful left-foot in the second. Barcelona start the Group Stage with a comfortable win and, already, the race for Champions League top-scorer 2013-14 is on.

Barcelona: Valdes; Adriano, Pique, Mascherano, Dani Alves; Busquets, Iniesta, Fabregas; Neymar, Messi, Alexis Sanchez.

Ajax: Vermeer; Moisander, Van Rhijn, Denswil, Blind; Poulsen, Duarte, De Jong; Bojan, Boilesen, Sigthorsson.

Goals: Messi 22' 55' 75', Pique 69'