Champions League: Messi shines again to take Barcelona into quarters

13 March, 2013

Quality players rise above everyone and come up with sterling performances when their teams need them most. Similarly, Lionel Messi came up with a quality display to help Barcelona progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Messi scored two goals in the first half, which laid the path for a huge win as they won the game 4-0 at Camp Nou.

When Barcelona lost the first leg 2-0 during the round of 16 in the San Siro, very few expected them to come back and progress to the next round by thrashing AC Milan, another heavyweight of European football. They were required to win the game by at least three clear goals, which was a monumental task. No team had ever come back from 2-0 goal deficit to win a tie. It was a do or die match for the Spanish giants, who were considered favourites for the title. They stayed true to their tag by their quality display on the football pitch.

Major credit goes to Messi for his tremendous performance, as he was unstoppable right from the first minute of the game for AC Milan defenders. His goal in the fifth minute of the game was his characteristic left foot curling finish. The AC Milan defenders were aware that they should not give him any space, so they were tight on marking him. In spite of this, he got a small inch of space to trigger his shot, which was enough to help him find the back of the net against the helpless Milan goalie.

From here on, the Argentinean star began to bamboozle defenders with his silky skills throughout the game creating chances for himself and team mates. The second goal was also scored with his left foot around the 40th minute. With Messi's onslaught, it was evident that the remarkable comeback was within sights for the Catalans. The two second half goals by David Villa and Jordi Alba put the Italian giants, AC Milan out of the competition.

With this victory, other teams remaining in the competition would double their fear and would like to avoid a clash with the Catalans, whose confidence would be soaring high after they demolished AC Milan. It would take a very special performance from other European clubs to stop them from clinching the elusive Champions League title.