LONDON: Lionel Messi fired Barcelona into the last 16 of the Champions League with two goals in their 3-0 victory at Spartak Moscow on Tuesday while Valencia and last season’s runners-up Bayern Munich advanced from Group F with a 1-1 draw in the Mestalla.
Free-scoring Shakhtar Donetsk beat Nordsjaelland 5-2 with a controversial Luiz Adriano hat-trick smoothing their progress from Group E.
The Brazilian seemed unaware that his team mate Willian was playing the ball back to the Danish side’s keeper following an injury and pounced to score his first goal sparking jeers and whistles from the crowd and angering the incredulous home side.
Messi’s brace for Barca took his tally in Europe’s flagship club competition to 56, equal second on the all-time scorers’ list with Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy, as the Catalans guaranteed top spot in Group G.
While Barca have an unassailable 12 points, the runners-up spot is in the balance after Benfica beat Celtic 2-1, meaning they both have seven points with one game left.
Scottish champions Celtic were 20 minutes away from the score draw that would have put them through along with the Spaniards before Argentine Ezequiel Garay struck the winner.
Celtic host Spartak in their final group game knowing they will have to better Benfica’s result against Barcelona.
Galatasaray kept alive their chances of reaching the knockout phase with a 1-0 victory over already-qualified Manchester United. They are vying with CFR Cluj for the runners-up spot in Group H. (Reuters)
