Good evening! It's an hour until kickoff at the GSP Stadium, where APOEL will be hoping to boost their chances of securing a Europa League place, while Barcelona will be hoping to keep their chances of finishing the campaign at the top of the table. Let's start with a look at the teams...

APOEL STARTING XI: Pardo, Guilherme, Carlao, Antoniades, Sergio, Gomes, Vinicius, Manduca, Morais, Aloneftis, Sheridan

BARCELONA STARTING XI: Ter Stegen, Pique, Mascherano, Bartra, Alba, Alves, Rakitic, Rafinha, Rodriguez, Suarez, Messi

APOEL SUBSTITUTES: Chiotis, Riise, Papazoglou, Efrem, Alexandrou, De Vincenti, Djebbour

BARCELONA SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Adriano, Mathieu, Busquets, Xavi, Neymar, El Haddadi

So Andres Iniesta is still missing for the visitors as he continues to struggle with a calf problem. There's no worries up front for the La Liga side though, as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez lead the attack, with Neymar starting on the bench.

Barcelona will be familiar with the keeper that they have to beat this evening as Urko Pardo came through the youth system with the Catalan side, playing for Barcelona B from 2002-2007. The Cypriot side also boast former Champions League winner John-Arne Riise on their bench.

Ahead of kickoff, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique told reporters: "They don't concede easily, but don't score easily either. I expect APOEL to play like they did in Barcelona, very tight at the back with players closing down all the channels. Regarding possible changes to the team, it depends on our opponents and on the adjustments that need to be made. We will see. We want to finish first."

In his pre-match press conference, APOEL coach Giorgos Donis said: "Barcelona being in Cyprus is a great experience for us all. We have to adapt our game accordingly and play like robots. We want to take something from Barcelona, even if it may sound overambitious. This competition offers you the opportunity to play massive clubs like them. We know how tough they are. We played well in the first game but every game at this level is different. I believe in my players and my team. We are at home and we need to show our strength and fight until the final minute. We have a lot to gain."

When the sides met at Camp Nou earlier in the season, Barcelona secured a narrow 1-0 win. In fact, three of the four matches that APOEL have played in the group stage so far have ended in 1-0 losses.

Just days after becoming the all-time record goalscorer in La Liga, Lionel Messi could make history again tonight. The Argentina is currently level with Raul as the top scorer in the Champions League, so a goal tonight would give him the record outright.

Here's Messi practicing his skills as he prepares to try and break the record. He comes into this match in fine form, having scored a hat-trick in the league at the weekend:

Today #Messi could break the @ChampionsLeague goalscoring record https://t.co/hKP84XaIFG RT to support him! #ApoelFCB #FCBLive

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2014

The two teams come into this match in contrasting form. After defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, Barcelona have been on a three-match winning streak, and have won three of their last four in the Champions League. By contrast, APOEL are yet to win in this group, and have not won in the league in their last two matches either.

APOEL have been known to cause upsets in this competition, beating Porto in the groups and knocking Lyon out in the round of 16 of their way to the quarter-finals in the 2011-12 season. On that occasion, they came up against Barcelona's a Liga rivals Real Madrid in the last eight, losing 8-2 on aggregate. To date, that's the only time they've made it out of the groups.

As we've already mentioned, Barcelona are already through to the last 16, but as things stand they'll be going through as runners-up in the group. A win tonight will keep them in contention to finish top, as they still have to face leaders PSG again. Winning the group could be vital, as it means they'll avoid the other group winners, which would include the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea as things stand.

Given this stat, it looks like it's going to be a busy night for the APOEL keeper against his former club...

1 - @FCBarcelona have only failed to score in one of their last 30 #UCL group stage games (0-0 against Benfica in 2012). Bravery. — OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 25, 2014

One player who will have to be careful this evening is Daniel Alves. The defender is just one booking away from a suspension, so a yellow card tonight would make him unavailable for the potentially crucial final match against PSG. If Barca get ahead early on, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Luis Enrique withdrawing Alves at half time, or shortly after the restart.

REFEREE WATCH! Italian official Gianluca Rocchi will take charge of this match. It will be his 21st match in the Champions League, and 49th in Europe. He knows both of these sides well, having refereed them each twice in the Champions League in the last four seasons.

If Barcelona don't win tonight, they'll have to hope that PSG slip up in their match against Ajax. You can also follow live coverage from that fixture with Sports Mole tonight.

PREDICTION! The players will be heading out of the tunnel in the next few minutes, so there's just time for a quick prediction. APOEL have proved a tricky team to beat in the Champions League this season, but Barcelona have brought a strong side, and have the added incentive of trying to finish top of the group. I think it will be a comfortable 3-0 for the visitors tonight.

As the players make their way out, it an understandably packed stadium in Nicosia this evening. 600 of those in the 22,800 capacity GSP Stadium are away supporters though.

The handshakes are done, the Champions League anthems have been played and the two sides are almost ready. There's a thick fog obscuring the view ahead of kickoff though as some supporters have brought flares with them.

KICKOFF! Barcelona get the game underway after a short delay while the smoke from the flares cleared.

Barcelona keep hold of the ball for the opening couple of minutes. Messi gets the ball on the edge of the box and tries to dance his way around a couple of defenders, but his path is blocked. The Argentine is getting some pantomime boos from the home supporters every time he touches the ball.

CHANCE! Barca are on the attack again, with Alves weaving his way into the box before pulling the ball back to Suarez, but the Uruguayan's shot is blocked and turned behind. Suarez earns himself a bit of a talking to from the referee moments later as he kicks the ball away after being flagged for offside while trying to latch onto another Alves through-ball.

APOEL are enjoying a bit of possession for the first time this evening as Manduca and Sheridan link up on the edge of the box, but neither could get a shot away for the hosts.

Barcelona try to catch APOEL out with a quick counter-attack, but Suarez has an effort blocked before Rafinha's cross is gathered by Pardo.

Suarez is continuing to ask questions of the home defenders, but to no avail. He tries a one-two with Pedro, but Joao Guilherme steals it away for the Cypriots.

The hosts try to put Barcelona under pressure again, with Antoniades unleashing a shot, but Mascherano was in his way.

CHANCE! After a couple of minutes of sustained pressure from the visitors, Pardo has to make his first real save of the night. Messi plays the ball in from out wide before setting up Suarez, but the keeper is alert and makes the stop.

Messi tries to find Suarez again, but Aloneftis intercepts the pass and tries to take it down the other end for APOEL, but his progress is halted by Alves.

CHANCE! Alba send a high ball in for Suarez, but there's too much on it. It does eventually fall to Alves, but he goes for power over accuracy, and volleys the ball high into the stand behind the goal.

Messi may be on the verge of becoming the Champions League leading all time scorer, but he's been playing selflessly so far tonight. He sends another ball into the box, this time for Jordi Alba, but it's a defender's finish from the full-back as he blasts the ball well wide.

Messi is still working to create an opener for the visitors, but APOEL have looked tidy and organised at the back so far. Tiago Gomes clears the Argentine's ball in.

Luis Suarez scores his first competitive goal for Barcelona to give the Spanish side the lead. The Uruguayan picks up the ball on the edge of the box, and his first touch is brilliant, allowing him to turn before rifling a superb drilled effort past Pardo.

There's an injury worry for Barcelona as Carlao tries to beat Messi to a high ball, and leaps so high he ends up catching the Argentine in the head with his trailing leg. The forward is soon back to his feet, but is left clutching his ear. Carlao is down too, and it looks like he'll be getting a yellow card once he's up again.

BOOKING! Carlao does indeed go in the book for his high challenge on Messi. Both men have the go off the pitch as they received treatment, and it's nice to see that the APOEL defender offers a handshake in apology, which Messi takes with a smile.

BOOKING! Bad news for Barcelona, Dani Alves won't be playing their next Champions League match. The defender needed to avoid a booking tonight, but he handles the ball, earning him a caution that will leave him suspended for the match against PSG next month.

It's starting to get a bit physical as another heavy challenge comes in, this time from Vinicius on Rafinha to give Barcelona a free kick inside their own half.

BOOKING! Messi tries to create something from the free kick, but Gomes blocks it and tries to run it out. His progress is halted by a lunging tackle from Rafinha, which earns the Barca man a yellow card. Discipline has certainly dropped in the last five minutes.

Rakitic spots Pardo out of position, and tries to fire a shot in from the edge of the box, but Antoniades is there to turn it behind for a corner, which the hosts swiftly clear.

Lionel Messi is now the top scorer in Champions League history! Rafinha has the ball on the edge of the box, and tries to drill the ball in himself, but the forward watches the shot, and deflects it in the opposite direction to deceive the keeper, giving him the record that he had previously shared with Raul.

Aloneftis tries to get forward to give APOEL a chance of getting back into this game, but he's crowded out by Pique and Alba, allowing the visitors to quickly head back down the other end.

UPDATE: Barcelona will be disappointed to hear that group leaders PSG have taken the lead through Edinson Cavani in the other Group F fixture this evening.

CHANCE! Suarez almost has his second of the night as Messi chips the ball forward for his strike partner, but the Uruguay international fires just wide.

CHANCE! Or maybe half-chance would be more fair! Manduca runs towards the Barcelona goal, but he hasn't got any support, so has to do it all himself. He rushes the shot and fires it well wide, leaving Ter Stegen yet to really do anything this evening.

Suarez and Messi have proved a deadly combination so far this evening, and they look like they want to add another before half time. APOEL have numbers back to ensure that they don't drop further behind though, clearing the threat.

So Barcelona appear to be heading for a comfortable win at half time in their Group F match against APOEL this evening. However, the main headline from the opening 45 minutes...

He's done it! Lionel Messi overtakes Raúl and becomes the #UCL's all-time leading scorer! pic.twitter.com/J6vetMvxnx — Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 25, 2014

You certainly wouldn't bet against Messi adding to that total tonight. He played selflessly early on, mainly creating chances for Suarez rather than taking on the shot himself, but he had a few efforts late in the first half, and will surely continue to cause problems after the break.

Here are some more stats from the first half...

Barcelona dominated the possession with 80%, and had 12 shots with four on target.

APOEL have registered just one effort, and is failed to trouble Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal.

The visitors have already had two players booked, so Luis Enrique could make changes early in the second half to make sure that his side finishes the match with all 11 players in the pitch. The Spanish side have plenty of talent on the bench, including exciting young striker Munir El Haddadi and Brazilian star Neymar.

KICKOFF! The home side get the second half underway.

SUB! The hosts have made one change for the second half, bringing on Georgios Efrem in place of Efstathios Aloneftis.

Barcelona appear to be starting as they finished the first half, with Messi and Suarez looking sharp up front while Rakitic continues to create opportunities in the middle.

Efrem tries to latch onto a long ball forward for his first touch of the game, but he's flagged for offside before he can reach the ball. His introduction at the break is an attacking one.

CHANCE! Messi wins the ball in midfield, and a superb run into the box beats the entire APOEL back four. He pulls the ball across the six-yard box for Pedro, but the winger's finish is a fraction wide of the right upright.

BOOKING! Joao Guilherme is the second APOEL player the go in the book as he trips Suarez of the edge of the box, leaving the visitors with a free kick in a strong position.

Rakitic curls the ball in towards Suarez from the free kick, but Carlao beats the striker to it, nudging it behind for a corner.

Rakitic lines up another free kick after Rafinha is tripped around 25 yards out. Suarez tries to tap it in, but Pardo comes off his line to comfortably claim it.

APOEL try to clear the ball, but it only gets as far as Alves, who takes a touch before perfectly picking out Messi's run, leaving the striker with an easy, low finish for his second goal of the night.

APOEL have barely been given time to string a couple of passes together since the restart. Morais tries to steal the ball away for the hosts, but he's penalised for a high tackle.

SUBS! With the win surely in the bag, Barcelona are making changes, Xavi and Adriano come on for Ivan Rakitic and Jordi Alba.

SUB! Meanwhile, the hosts are making their second change, bringing on Tomas de Vincenti in place as Gustavo Manduca, who has had very little impact up front this evening.

Despite their three-goal cushion Barcelona are still pushing, and Dani Alves thinks that he is through to add his fourth of the evening, but Sheridan gets the block in.

CHANCE! APOEL have their best chance of the night so far, but they still don't force Ter Stegen into action. Mario Sergio tries to volley in, but he slices it well high.

CHANCE! Ter Stegen has now made a save, and it took fast reflexes from the keeper to deny APOEL. Substitute De Vincenti makes an immediate impact, unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box, but the keeper does just enough.

Buoyed by creating a couple of chances, APOEL commit a few more players forward as they try to get a goal back, but it allows Barcelona to put them under pressure on the counter-attack and force a corner.

RED CARD! Rafinha catches the back of De Vincente's foot and is shown a yellow card. He'd already been booked in the first half, so is given his marching orders.

UPDATE: In more positive news for the visitors, Ajax have equalised against PSG. If the French champions can't find a winner, and Barcelona don't have a late collapse, the Spaniards will take over at the top of Group F this evening.

CHANCE! Being down to 10 men doesn't seem to be hampering Barcelona too much as Messi players the ball in for Suarez, who thumps the ball towards goal, only to have his shot punched clear by Pardo.

SUB! The hosts make their final change of the night, and it's another positive one, as striker Rafik Djebbour takes over from Vinicius. Djebbour is experienced in this competition, with goals against Dortmund and Arsenal during his time with Olympiakos.

SUB! Barcelona make their final change, and it's Luis Suarez who heads off, bringing Sergio Busquets on for the final 15 minutes.

Barcelona are still dictating the game at the minute, but they're not pushing as much as they had been earlier on. Now that they're a player short, the La Liga side may be happy to stick with the three-goal margin.

UPDATE: It doesn't look like Barcelona will be topping the group tonight, as PSG have edged back in front against Ajax, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring against his former club.

Messi seems to have become a bit of a marked man in the last few minutes, as the Argentina is brought down twice in quick succession. The second lets him put APOEL under pressure in the box as he awaits the free kick from Busquets, but the home side clear the danger.

RED CARD! The sides are even again as Joao Guilherme picks up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Pedro. It's 10-a-side for the final few minutes.

Lionel Messi completes his hat-trick, and he has some brilliant build-up from Xavi to thanks for his third goal of the night. The substitute shows his impressive footwork on the edge of the box to keep the ball alive, and loops it in towards Messi. The Argentina initially leaves it as he thought he was offside, but Pedro pulls it back in from out wide to leave the record-breaking striker with an easy tap in. Incidentally, the hat-trick has been completed with three right-footed strikes, which is rather unusual!

Barcelona are continuing the pile forward as full time approaches, with Pedro trying to get on the scoresheet as well, but his finish is wide.

CHANCE! Messi tries to make it five, but the home side turn his effort behind for a corner.

So a hat-trick from Lionel Messi leads Barcelona to a 4-0 win over APOEL, while Luis Suarez opened the scoring with his first goal for the club. The result leaves the team second in the table, a point behind group leaders PSG, who beat Ajax 3-1 this evening.

That's all from Nicosia this evening, but stick around to read match reports, reaction and players ratings from all eight of today's matches in the Champions League, and join us again tomorrow when we'll be doing it all again, with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid in action. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye!