Champions League

[monks data]

- | -

Nov 20, 2012 at 5pm UK

Spartak Moscow
0-3
Barcelona

Barcelona through to last 16

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter and Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 20 November 2012

Lionel Messi scores twice for Barcelona as the Spanish giants defeat Spartak Moscow 3-0 away to qualify for the Champions League last 16.

Barcelona have progressed to the Champions League last 16 with a comfortable 3-0 away victory over Spartak Moscow in Group G.

The Spanish giants went ahead as early as the 16th minute through Daniel Alves.

The home side failed to clear a shot from Lionel Messi and when the ball dropped to the Brazilian right-back on the edge of the box, he made no mistake to shoot past Andriy Dykan.

Dani Alves celebrates Barcelona's second goal on November 20, 2012 © AP Photos

Spartak could have restored parity seven minutes later, but Marek Suchy failed to convert a cross from Emmanuel Emenike.

That miss came back to haunt the Russian outfit in the 27th minute, as Messi fired in from 20 yards out after Dykan's clearance from an Andres Iniesta shot went straight to the forward.

The Argentine scored his second goal of the evening six minutes from the half-time interval, latching on to a through ball from Pedro and slotting it into the Spartak goal after rounding Dykan.

Lionel Messi opens the scoring against Spartak on November 20, 2012 © AP Photos

Cesc Fabregas could have made it 4-0 to Tito Vilanova's side in the opening minutes of the second half, but he saw his low shot saved by Dykan.

Dykan was called into action again just minutes later when he kept out a Pedro header from close range.

Pedro tested the Spartak goalkeeper again on 77 minutes and shot wide two minutes later.