LONDON – Two goals from Lionel Messi steered Barcelona to a convincing 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Messi provided a clinical finish to a breakaway move that featured strike partners Luis Suarez and Neymar in the 71st minute and then scored an 83rd minute penalty to seal the first-leg match.
The five-time world player of the year decided a game that Barcelona had dominated, without taking all the chances that came the way of its feared strike trio.
Arsenal created opportunities in both halves and looked to limit the damage against a side that its own manager Arsene Wenger described as "super favorites."
Barcelona will be confident of reaching the quarterfinals for the ninth consecutive season after the second leg on March 16 at the Nou Camp.
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