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Barca wins, Messi short of Ronaldo record

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach, but fell short of matching Cristiano Ronaldo's goal record in the group stage of the Champions League.

Messi struck his 10th group-stage goal this season, one less than the 11 netted by Ronaldo with Real Madrid last season to set the record.

Arda Turan scored a hat-trick for Barcelona, which had already secured first place in Group C.

Moenchengladbach finished third and will play in the Europa League next season.

All positions had already been decided ahead of Tuesday's final round.

Barcelona finished with 15 points, six more than Manchester City.

Messi scored in the 16th minute at Camp Nou after a one-two with Turan inside the Moenchengladbach area.

The Argentine slid behind the defenders and fired home a low left-foot shot after receiving Turan's return pass.

Messi had a great chance to match Ronaldo's record in the 73rd, but his close-range header was brilliantly saved on the goal line by goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Turan scored in the 50th, 53rd and 67th minutes to help the Catalan club end a three-game winless streak. It conceded a 90th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 home draw against Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Barcelona was without forward Neymar and midfielder Ivan Rakitic because of suspensions.

Ronaldo last year became the first player to reach double figures in the six games of the group stage.

Messi played in only five matches for Barcelona this season, but he twice scored hat tricks - in the home games against Celtic and Manchester City.

He also netted once against City in Manchester and twice against Celtic in Glasgow.

Messi now has 93 goals overall in the Champions League, two less than Ronaldo.