Champions League round-up: Messi stages repeat performance to snatch win for Barca
Having scored Barcelona's last-minute winner in the derby against Espanyol at the weekend, Lionel Messi did it again last night to secure Pep Guardiola's side a 2-1 win at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Shakhtar were leading through Junior Ilsinho's first-half strike until three minutes to go when Messi equalised after goalkeeper Andrei Pyatov spilled a cross at his feet. The Ukrainian side complained that they had put the ball out for treatment to an injured player but English referee Howard Webb waved away their protests. Messi then struck again deep in added time, coolly chipping home from Xavi's pass.
Chelsea's next opponents in the competition, Roma, recovered from going from a goal behind to overcome 10-man Bordeaux3-1. The Serie A side responded to Yoann Gourcuff's early goal with two strikes from former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista and a Mirko Vucinic header.
In Group D Atletico Madrid set up their much anticipated double-header with Liverpool by edging out Marseilles 2-1, highly-rated Argentine striker Sergio Aguero getting their first goal.
Having knocked Olympiakos out of the qualifying rounds, Cypriot outsiders Anorthosis Famagusta shocked another Greek side, beating Panathinaikos 3-1 at home. Claudio Pizarro, currently on loan at Werder Breman from Chelsea, hit the German side's equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw against Internazionale.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies