Record number of passes in Cyprus

FC Barcelona’s 4-0 win against APOEL will always be remembered for Messi setting a new Champions League all-time goalscoring record. But there were other reasons to be proud of a stunning performance in Cyprus, as shown by this collection of trivia from the game.

• FC Barcelona made 934 passes, of which 840 were completed, the highest tally of the season.

• The highest number of passes until now under Luis Enrique was achieved against the same side, APOEL, in the game at the Camp Nou (856, of which 747 were good). However, Barça actually completed more passes away to Levante (768) out of a slightly smaller overall total (852).

• Barça set that new passing record with a brand new midfield line-up. It was the first time Mascherano, Rafinha and Rakitic had all started together.

• The Argentinian led the team in passes (118, of which a massive 111 found their man), a record figure for this season’s Champions League.

• Goalkeeper Ter Stegen’s game was as good as perfect. Apart from one particularly outstanding save, he didn’t get any of his 23 passes wrong. APOEL stopper Nuno Morais made more passes, 29, but three of them were bad.

• The German kept his second consecutive clean sheet, taking his overall record for the season to three in five appearances, all in the UCL.

• The last time Leo Messi got two consecutive hat-tricks was in March against Osasuna (7-0) and then Real Madrid (3-4).

• The Argentinian has scored in every European away match this season, a total of five goals in three games.

• He’s scored six goals in his last two games and eight in the last four.

• 7 of the 12 Champions League goals scored by Barça this season have come in the first half. The second quarter of an hour has been the most productive period, with three goals.

• Rafinha was only the second FC Barcelona player to be sent off this season. The first was Javier Mascherano in the league game with Elche.

• Barça have played 65 minutes with a man less this season, and in that time they have scored three goals and conceded none..