Two goals from Lionel Messi have left three-time winners Barcelona just 45 minutes away from booking their place in the last 16 of this season's Champions League.
Hosting Spartak Moscow started the tie brightly but they found themselves a goal behind with 16 minutes played. The home defence failed to clear a shot from Messi and when the ball dropped to Brazilian full-back Dani Alves on the edge of the box, he drilled a low shot beyond the reach of Andriy Dykan in goal.
The home side had the chance to level proceedings seven minutes later, but Marek Suchy was unable to convert a cross from Emmanuel Emenike.
That miss was punished in the 27th minute as Messi doubled Barca's advantage. Dykan parried clear a shot from Andres Iniesta straight to Messi, who shot instantly with his right foot into the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards out.
The Argentine then went on to claim his 80th goal of the calender year six minutes before the break when he collected a through pass from Pedro, before rounding Dykan and slotting the ball into an unguarded net.
Liam Apicella
