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Champions League | Round-of-16
Mar 12, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Milan logo

4-0

Half-Time Report: Lionel Messi brace brings Barcelona level against AC Milan

Two-goal Lionel Messi puts Barcelona level on aggregate against AC Milan in their Champions League last-16 clash.

Lionel Messi scored two goals from outside the area to bring Barcelona level on aggregate after the first half of their Champions League last-16 clash against AC Milan.

Barcelona's forward Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against AC Milan in the Champions League last 16 clash on March 12, 2013© PA Photos

Milan could barely string two passes together in the opening exchanges and soon Barca were ahead.

Messi exchanged passes with Xavi Hernandez on the edge of the area before shifting the ball onto his left foot and curling it into the top corner, with Milan stopper Christian Abbiati only able to watch it fly past.

Milan had a chance to get a goal when Stephan El Shaarawy picked up the ball in the area but he was driven wide by two Barca defenders and duffed his shot.

The hosts could have had a penalty soon after but referee Viktor Kassai felt that Ignacio Abate did not unfairly push Pedro, who had got in on the wrong side of the Italian.

Moments later Barca hit the bar when Andres Iniesta swiped a volley goalwards and Abbiati was at full stretch in tipping it against the upright. The ball fell to Messi but he headed into the side net from a tight angle.

El Shaarawy had another half-chance but weakly hit his shot at Victor Valdes before a golden chance for Milan to get an away goal was squandered.

Javier Mascherano misjudged a long ball and M'Baye Niang had a free run at goal but hit the foot of the post.

The Rossoneri were punished seconds later when Messi collected the ball on the edge of the area and beat Abbiati at his near post with a low strike.

Barcelona players celebrate the opening goal in their Champions League clash against AC Milan on March 12, 2013© PA Photos

Follow live text coverage of the second half by clicking here.

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Barcelona's Lionel Messi is chased by AC Milan's Massimo Ambrosini during the two sides Champions League match on February 20, 2013
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TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


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