Champions League

Magical Messi mauls Stuttgart

2010-03-17 23:46
Email | Print
Lionel Messi (AFP)

Barcelona - Lionel Messi scored two goals and helped create another as holders Barcelona thumped VfB Stuttgart 4-0 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate on Wednesday.

Fresh from a hat-trick in La Liga, the Argentina forward set Barca on their way in the 13th minute when he ran at the Stuttgart defence and crashed a left-foot shot into the roof of the net from just outside the penalty area.

A superbly weighted pass from the FIFA World Player of the Year sent Yaya Toure clear on the left nine minutes later and forward Pedro timed his run to perfection to sweep home the Ivory Coast midfielder's low cross.

Messi struck again with a low strike from the edge of the area on the hour to effectively kill off the tie and keep Spanish hopes alive after the elimination of La Liga sides Real Madrid and Sevilla.

Substitute Bojan Krkic added a late fourth just a minute after coming on to the pitch.

Follow Sport24 on Twitter and Facebook

 

Comment on this story
30 comments
Add your comment
avatar
Logout
Comment 0 characters remaining
 
 
Live Video Streaming
Show full schedule
Video Highlights
Show more videos
Sport Talk
  • Cheering for the underdogs
    So, after weeks of football we’re down to just two teams – Ivory Coast and Zambia – who will...
    • Breaking News

    Fixtures
    14 February 2012
    Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona, BayArena 21:45
    Lyon v Apoel Nicosia, Municipal De Gerland 21:45
    15 February 2012
    Zenit St Petersburg v Benfica, Petrovski Stadium 19:00
    AC Milan v Arsenal, San Siro 21:45
    Logs
    Team P W PTS
    Team P W PTS
    Team P W PTS
    Team P W PTS
    Team P W PTS
    Team P W PTS
    Team P W PTS
    Team P W PTS
    Previous Results

    Date Home Team Result Away Team
    Vote

    Who is the greatest ever footballer - past or present?

    Latest Video
    Play

    Volcanic mountain biking

    Keeping the De Jong alive

    Sonny Bill Williams gets his own back

    Girls of the Cape Town Tens

    It wasn't all rugby at the Cape Town Tens...

    Sport24 Super Rugby challenge

    Think you're smarter than Sport24 finest brains?

    Featured Blog

    T20 cricket- endless possibilities

    T20 cricket is quite simply three hours of entertainment. The stadiums, usually packed to the brim, are quite literally set alight. The players don't just walk out on to the pitch, they sprint on after their names are called out on the overhead speaker, writes blogger Tom.

    Latest blogs
    John Smit was a “hooker”, yes?
    2012/02/09 03:45:27 PM
    Rumours Of The Lions' Demise Were Premature - New Sponsor Deal
    2012/02/09 02:43:56 PM
    What makes a Captain - The John Smit(h) debate
    2012/02/09 01:00:24 PM
     
    Sign up and WIN

     

    Twitter Follow Sport24 on Twitter

    Newsletters Sign up for Sport24's Morning Glory newsletter

    Blogs Yes your opinion counts. Get it out there

    WIN Enter and win with Sport24!

    Mobile Sport24 on your mobile phone - WAP, alerts, downloads, services

    BlackBerry Stay in the loop on your BlackBerry

    iPhone Latest Sport24 news on your iPhone

    Facebook "Like" Sport24's Facebook page

    TV schedule Plan your couch time with our searchable sport TV guide

    RSS Feeds Sport news delivered really simply.

     
    There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.