Champions League

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Champions League | Round-of-16

Mar 12, 2013 at 7.45pm UK

Barcelona
4-0
AC Milan

Messi, Villa, Alba

Barcelona hit four to oust AC Milan

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 12 March 2013

Barcelona overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg to edge out AC Milan 4-2 on aggregate and qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals.

Barcelona have qualified for the last eight of the Champions League by overturning a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against AC Milan to win 4-2 on aggregate.

Barcelona's David Villa celebrates after scoring his side's third goal in their Champions League clash with AC Milan on March 12, 2013 © AP Photos

Milan hardly got out of their half in the first five minutes and Barca soon made them pay as Lionel Messi played a one-two with Xavi Hernandez before curling an effort past the unmoving Christian Abbiati.

Stephan El Shaarawy mishit a good chance for the visitors before Barca's call for a penalty when Ignacio Abate shoved Pedro was waved away by Viktor Kassai.

Moments later Barca hit the upright when Andres Iniesta's volley was tipped against the bar by Abbiati, with Messi heading the rebound into the side netting from a tight angle.

Milan then had a clear-cut opportunity to nab a vital away goal but M'Baye Niang could only hit the foot of the post from an unchallenged one-on-one opportunity after Javier Mascherano had misjudged a long ball.

Barcelona's forward Lionel Messi scores his second goal during the second leg of his side's Champions League last 16 match with AC Milan on March 12, 2013 © AP Photos

AC were punished almost instantly as Messi collected the ball on the edge of the area and beat Abbiati at his near post with a low shot.

After the break Messi almost completed his hat-trick when he outpaced two Milan defenders but couldn't beat Abbiati with his shot across goal.

The hosts did have their third in the 55th minute when Xavi fizzed a pass onto David Villa that Kevin Constant couldn't intercept, with the Spanish striker controlling the ball with one touch before curling it into the far corner with his left foot.

Barcelona's David Villa scores his side's third goal in their Champions League clash with AC Milan on March 12, 2013 © AP Photos

Milan's best chance since Niang's one-on-one miss fell to Mathieu Flamini, but his flick from inside the six-yard area was blocked by Gerard Pique.

Barca continued to press for a fourth knowing that a Milan goal would put them ahead on the away-goals rule.

The visitors almost got that goal inside the final 10 minutes when former Barca man Bojan Krkic beat Pique and pulled it back for another substitute Robinho, but he was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Jordi Alba.

Alba went on to seal the tie for Barca in added time by finishing a swift counter-attack.

Barca's victory makes them the first side to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in the knockout stages of the Champions League.