An enthralling first-half display put FC Barcelona within touching distance of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four seasons as FC Bayern München were brushed aside at the Camp Nou.

Outstanding display
Two first-half goals from Lionel Messi plus one each from Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry ripped through the resistance of a Bayern side who had themselves scored a record 12 times against Sporting Clube de Portugal in the previous round, comprehensively ending the German club’s 100 per cent competitive record against Barça here. Ten years on from their final defeat by Manchester United FC there was more misery in Barcelona for Bayern, for whom Hans Jörg Butt made only his second start of the season in goal in place of Michael Rensing. The decision to opt for experience was to no avail as the Liga leaders imposed themselves at will with all three strikers in dazzling form.

Early breakthrough
Barça were into their stride from the first whistle and, even before Messi’s ninth-minute opener, a lovely interchange of passes between Daniel Alves, Xavi Hernández and Henry allowed the latter to round Butt. Martín Demichelis cleared off the line but the respite was brief for a Bayern defence already deprived of Lucio and Daniel Van Buyten and with a calf injury restricting Philipp Lahm to a place on the bench. Within moments Andrés Iniesta dribbled past Hamit Altıntop and Eto’o held off Breno before setting Messi free to slide past Butt.

Barça Brilliance Turns Tables on Bayern … read more »

Aggregate: 6 – 3
Barcelona         5 – 2         Lyon
Henry 25, 27,                        Makoun 44, Juninho 48
Messi 40, Eto’o 43,
Keita 90+ 5

Four goals in 18 first-half minutes and a superb individual display from Thierry Henry helped FC Barcelona into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Olympique Lyonnais despite a defiant performance from the French champions.

Decisive spell
Henry, who had worked with Lyon coach Claude Puel at AS Monaco FC, put the home team in front in the 25th minute and added another composed finish two minutes later as the visitors were punished for lapses in concentration. After Lionel Messi made it 3-0, Henry set up Samuel Eto’o to thump in a fourth, although Lyon – beaten in the first knockout round for the third year in a row – refused to concede defeat, Jean II Makoun and Juninho Pernambucano restoring respectability to the scoreline with strikes either side of half-time. The latter was sent off in stoppage time, however, and appropriately Barcelona had the last word as substitute Seydou Keita scored a fifth in added time.

Lyon undone
The opening goals had carried plenty of warning but the roars which greeted them signified both joy and relief because Puel’s side had played with enthusiasm to keep Barça at bay. After the creativity of Andrés Iniesta had given Xavi Hernández and Eto’o glimpses of Hugo Lloris’s goal, once again it was Henry – author of the vital headed equaliser in the first leg – who unlocked the away defence. The opener bore the creative hallmark of Rafael Márquez. Lyon, having been encamped in their penalty area for several minutes, suddenly lost their defensive shape and surged forward. Márquez won a loose ball and instantly angled a clever chipped pass over Cris and Jean-Alain Boumsong for Henry to streak through and slide past the exposed Lloris. Two minutes later Xavi spotted the Frenchman alone and in line with the Lyon back four; speed of thought and pass left Henry to supply another assured finish. Suddenly Barça’s path to the quarter-finals looked clear.

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Thierry Henry scored on his return to France to cancel out Juninho Pernambucano’s early free-kick, as FC Barcelona came through a severe test against a vibrant Olympique Lyonnais side and will take a narrow advantage into second leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie.

Contrasting halves
Having suffered a surprise defeat against RCD Espanyol on Saturday, Josep Guardiola’s men were hoping for a reassuring performance against the French champions but quickly found themselves under intense pressure. After Juninho’s majestic set-piece on seven minutes OL created several more chances, Karim Benzema notably failing to convert a one-on-one and later striking a post. They would live to rue those misses as the visitors gradually improved, Samuel Eto’o also hitting the woodwork before Henry eventually found a way through on 69 minutes.

Familiar strike
These two sides found the net 32 times between them in the group stage so it came as little surprise to see the deadlock broken inside seven minutes. The source of the opener was also familiar as Juninho registered the 43rd free-kick goal of his Lyon career and one of his most spectacular. Positioned close to the left touchline, the Brazilian curled the ball superbly over goalkeeper Víctor Valdés, who had advanced slightly anticipating a cross, and into the top corner.

Henry Header Brings Barça Reward … read more »

FC Barcelona came from behind to earn a 2-1 victory at Villarreal CF and open up a ten-point buffer in the Spanish Liga after Sevilla FC could only manage a goalless draw at RCD Mallorca earlier on Sunday.

Cani opener
Thierry Henry and Giuseppe Rossi missed good chances for either side in the first half at El Madrigal but Cani sprung the offside trap within three minutes of the restart when he latched on to a through ball from Rossi and neatly clipped his finish over Víctor Valdés to open the scoring. However, the advantage did not last long as Barça swept forwards on 54 minutes and Daniel Alves looped in a right-wing cross that Seydou Keita bravely headed in under pressure from goalkeeper Diego López.

Nervous finish
Henry completed the turnaround when he applied the finish to a pinpoint Xavi Hernández cross after the midfielder had accelerated to the edge of the Villarreal area. The Catalan club were made to cling on, though, when Gerard Piqué was sent off on 75 minutes and Guille Franco spurned a fine late chance.

Deportivo delight
Sevilla had the chance to generate a three-point gap over Club Atlético de Madrid and Valencia CF in second place but they failed to unlock a spirited Mallorca rearguard. RC Deportivo La Coruña consolidated seventh spot with an emphatic 4-1 success at home to struggling RC Recreativo de Huelva, their fourth win in five Liga encounters.

Goal sprees
Two other sides with relegation fears fared better thanks to an abundance of goals. Basement side CA Osasuna led the way with five different scorers in their 5-2 victory at home to Getafe CF while hosts CD Numancia scored three times in the final five minutes to turn a 3-1 deficit into a success against Real Valladolid CF. Elsewhere, Real Sporting de Gijón overcame UD Almería 1-0, Athletic Club Bilbao won by the same score at Real Betis Balompié and Real Racing Club drew 1-1 with Málaga CF.