体坛英语新闻：Messi's heroics help Barca to reach Champions League quarters

Barca found it hard to create chances as the English side looked very well organized in midfield and defense. Messi should have been given a penalty after a foul by Diaby inside the area and in the closing minutes Adriano Correia hit the post from a narrow angle.

It was not until injury time that Barca took the lead and it gave thanks to Messi, who brilliantly controlled a pass from Andres Iniesta before volleying the ball past Almunia.

That goal meant it was now Arsenal who needed to score and they did so after 52 minutes when Busquets headed a corner into his own goal. No Arsenal player had managed a shot on target all night and yet they were level, although they should have been behind again immediately afterwards when Almunia saved from David Villa.

Van Persie was sent off after 55 minutes after seeing his second yellow card of the night for kicking the ball away following an offside decision. He had previously been booked for putting his hand in Alves' face.

That was the sign for Barca to put the Arsenal goal under siege and Almunia saved magnificently from Villa on two occasions. However Xabi put Barca ahead after 69 minutes after a neat pass from Messi.

Two minutes later Messi scored again as Pedro Rodriguez was brought down in the Arsenal area. This time the referee gave the penalty and Messi sent Almunia the wrong way from the spot.

Another goal would still have sent Arsenal through and Barca continued attacking, but Almunia stopped everything they threw at him. Neverthless so complete was Barca's control of the ball that the visitors were unable to carve out a single chance in the remaining time.