MILAN (AP) — Barcelona clinched first place in Group H of the Champions League on Wednesday night, beating AC Milan 3-2 in a pulsating match as Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez scored to overcome a goal by Zlatan Ibrahimovic against his former club.
Mark van Bommel’s own goal in the 14th minute gave Barcelona the lead, but Ibrahimovic tied the score four minutes later. Messi’s twice-taken penalty kick, his 25th goal of the season, put the defending champions ahead in the 31st, but Kevin-Prince Boateng made it 2-2 in the 54th. Xavi scored off a pass from Messi through several defenders in the 63rd.
Barcelona is unbeaten in 21 games this season and 27 dating to April, one shy of the team record set last season.
Both teams already had qualified for the second round.
