Barcelona 3 x 1 Milan BARCELONA STRIKER SCORED A BRACE AND ENDED HIS DROUGHT Messi awakens as Barça dump Milan A Lionel Messi brace powered Barcelona through to the knockout phase of the Champions League after their 3-1 win over AC Milan Wednesday night at the Camp Nou. Messi scored for the first time in three matches and Sergio Busquets added a header for the Catalonians who sit atop Group H with 10 points and are all but certain to claim first place honors in the group. Head coach Gerardo Martino once again rolled out an attack that featured the South American triumvirate of the in-form Alexis Sánchez, a then-goal-starved Messi and Brazilian Neymar. The Barcelona midfielder was the trustworthy trio of Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andrés Iniesta and in defense Dani Alves and Adriano manned the fullback positions while Gerard Piqué and Javier Mascherano anchored the center back spots in front of goalkeeper Víctor Valdés. Barcelona, with their characteristic possession-based game, dominated proceedings in the first half. The hosts were also helped by a very sloppy Milan side who were far too careless in giving away the ball. Rarely did the Rossoneri string together more than three consecutive passes and it made for easy pickings for the hosts. Barcelonas first goal came after a 29th minute penalty was whistled against Ignazio Abate who brought down Neymar in the area. Messi stepped forward to the spot and rocketed in a left-footer which he celebrated with an emphatic fist-pump. It was the Argentine superstars first goal in three matches. It was just a question of time before Barcelona struck again and it came all too easy fashion in the 40th minute when a Xavi free kick was headed in by Busquets who, incredibly, was left completely unmarked and had all the time and space in the world to smack a header past goalkeeper Christian Abbiati. The Milan defense had played the offside trap but it backfired badly as the linesmans flag stayed down. But moments before the halftime break a defensive lapse felled Barcelona when Piqué redirected in a Kaká cross to make the score 2-1. The former Real Madrid man made a charging run down the left side and was able to get past Alves before sending over a cross that touched Piqués right foot and glanced past a wrong-footed Valdés who had been anticipating a ball across. Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri made a change at halftime and it transformed the Rossneri into a much more fearful side in the second 45 minutes. Mario Balotelli came on for Robinho and suddenly Milan found themselves more in the Barcelona half with Mascherano visibly struggling to contain the strength of the Italian international. However, despite their brighter play, Milan were unable to find an equalizer and Barcelona began to reassert themselves. Neymar very nearly stretched the lead back to two with a bit of individual skill as the Brazilian slipped past three Milan defenders only to shoot wide in the 73rd minute. A minute later Neymar, Messi and Sánchez nearly combined on a goal but the Chileans strike was batted away by Abbiati. Barcelona finally put the match to bed with a strike from Messi in the 83rd minute. The Argentine played a ball to Cesc Fàbregas -- who had come on earlier in the half for Andrés Iniesta -- and the return ball from the former Arsenal man was perfect as Messi then easily slotted past Abbiati to make it 3-1. It was the 65th career Champions League goal for Messi. Barcelona will shift their focus back to league play this weekend when they pay a visit to Seville on Sunday to take on Betis.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 15:08:20 +0000
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