MADRID, Dhu-AlHijjah 4, 1438, Aug 26, 2017, SPA -- Lionel Messi missed a penalty kick but rebounded by scoring his record 350th goal in the Spanish league in Barcelona's 2-0 win at Alaves on Saturday. Messi also scored the second in leading the club to its second consecutive victory to start the league. Barcelona was still without Ousmane Dembele, who was announced as Neymar's replacement on Friday, and it also couldn't count on the injured Luis Suarez. With Messi as its lone star, Barcelona struggled in the beginning at Mendizorroza Stadium, but it gradually took control and cruised to victory following Messi's pair of second-half goals. Messi missed the penalty when his mid-height shot into the left corner was saved by the fingertips of Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. Messi scored the milestone goal in La Liga more than 12 years after his first, when he was only 17. He has 66 more than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, his closest challenger in the all-time list. Messi opened the scoring in the second half after receiving a pass from Jordi Alba inside the area and firing a left-footed shot into the corner. The second came after a blunder by the Alaves defense about 10 minutes later, again with a left-footer from inside the box. Messi later also hit the crossbar from just inside the area. He hit the woodwork three times in Barcelona's opening win over Real Betis last week, but he was yet to score in the league this season. -- SPA 22:28 LOCAL TIME 19:28 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w474629