LIONEL MESSI finally broke his Chelsea duck last night – at the ninth time of trying.
Lionel Messi celebrates after netting a vital goal against Chelsea – his first in nine attemptsNews Group Newspapers Ltd
That means there are only six holdouts remaining out of the 37 opponents the Argie master has faced in the Champions League.
Liverpool are now the only English side still to deny the all-time great.
At the other end of the table, Arsenal are Messi’s favourite opponent as he has netted nine times in six meetings.
Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Inter Milan, Rubin Kazan and Udinese join Liverpool – but some have had to keep him quiet for longer.
Liverpool – 180 minutes
Liverpool have kept Lionel Messi off the scoresheet twice in EuropePA:Empics Sport
The Reds faced Barcelona in the first knockout stage in 2007 and secured a stunning comeback victory in Spain.
Craig Bellamy and John Arne Risse scored after Deco opened the scoring for the Catalans.
Rafa Benitez’s side were beaten 1-0 at Anfield after Eidur Gudjohnsen struck but went through on away goals.
Liverpool went all the way to the final, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat against AC Milan in Athens.
Atletico Madrid – 360 minutes
Lionel Messi has not fared well against Atletico Madrid in EuropeEPA
Atleti are the closest side to matching Chelsea’s record after holding Messi out four times in Europe.
In 2014, the capital club drew won 1-0 in their quarter-final first-leg and progressed with a 1-1 draw in the return.
JUST GASSING Cesc Fabregas meets up with old Barcelona pals including Lionel Messi after Chelsea drawAnd they repeated the feat at the same stage in 2016 when they won 2-0 at home and fought for a 2-1 defeat at the Nou Camp before losing to rivals Real Madrid in the final.
Benfica have also found a way to keep Lionel Messi at bayGetty Images - Getty
The Portuguese giants have faced Messi twice – both in their group campaign in the 2012-13 edition.
A superb away draw saw nobody get on the scoresheet and while Barca won 2-0 at home, it was Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas with the goals.
Benfica ended up third in the table as the Catalans beat Celtic into top spot.
Rubin Kazan – 237 minutes
Russian minnows Rubin have a pretty strong record against BarcelonaGetty Images - Getty
The Russians have never lost at home to Barca in two attempts – a stalemate in 2009 and a 1-1 draw a year later with David Villa netting for the visitors.
Rubin beat Pep Guardiola’s side away in 09, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s strike trumped by by Aleksandr Ryazantsev and Gokdeniz Karadeniz’ goals.
The Catalans avenged that defeat the following season thanks to Andreu Fontas and Victor Vazquez Solsona, who both failed to establish themselves at the club.
Udinese shipped four goals but Lionel Messi did not manage to beat themPA:Empics Sport
Messi missed a 2-0 win in Italy which saw Udinese miss out on finishing second in their group in 2006.
But he featured alongside Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho in a 4-1 home victory for Barca, with the Brazilian bagging a hat-trick and Deco netting a penalty.
Inter Milan – 270 minutes
Jose Mourinho faced Lionel Messi three times in one season as he won the Champions LeagueAFP
Jose Mourinho played Barca four times en route to the Champions League title in 2010 – beginning with a 0-0 draw at the San Siro in Inter’s group.
Messi failed to net in that clash and was an unused sub as Chelsea ace Pedro scored both goals in a 2-0 Nou Camp win.
Mourinho’s revenge came in the quarter-finals where Messi was again goalless in a 3-1 first-leg defeat.
Inter did a brilliant job at containing the Catalans away and Gerard Pique’s late effort was not enough for his side.
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