MX23RW : Tuesday, December 24 17:57:36| >> :120:8715:8715:

Barcelona through to last 16

Lionel Messi scores twice for Barcelona as the Spanish giants defeat Spartak Moscow 3-0 away to qualify for the Champions League last 16.

Barcelona have progressed to the Champions League last 16 with a comfortable 3-0 away victory over Spartak Moscow in Group G.

The Spanish giants went ahead as early as the 16th minute through Daniel Alves.

The home side failed to clear a shot from Lionel Messi and when the ball dropped to the Brazilian right-back on the edge of the box, he made no mistake to shoot past Andriy Dykan.

Dani Alves celebrates Barcelona's second goal on November 20, 2012© AP Photos

Spartak could have restored parity seven minutes later, but Marek Suchy failed to convert a cross from Emmanuel Emenike.

That miss came back to haunt the Russian outfit in the 27th minute, as Messi fired in from 20 yards out after Dykan's clearance from an Andres Iniesta shot went straight to the forward.

The Argentine scored his second goal of the evening six minutes from the half-time interval, latching on to a through ball from Pedro and slotting it into the Spartak goal after rounding Dykan.

Lionel Messi opens the scoring against Spartak on November 20, 2012© AP Photos

Cesc Fabregas could have made it 4-0 to Tito Vilanova's side in the opening minutes of the second half, but he saw his low shot saved by Dykan.

Dykan was called into action again just minutes later when he kept out a Pedro header from close range.

Pedro tested the Spartak goalkeeper again on 77 minutes and shot wide two minutes later.

ID:55533: cacheID:55533:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3856:
Written by
Subhankar Mondal
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Zaragoza on November 17, 2012
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Messi brace puts Barcelona in command
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!