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Messi double earns Barca thrilling win

  • Story Highlights
  • Barcelona fight back to claim a thrilling 3-2 Champions League win at Celtic
  • Lionel Messi scores two goals and Thierry Henry one for the Catalan giants
  • Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson twice gave Celtic a shock lead
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GLASGOW, Scotland -- A Lionel Messi double secured a 3-2 Champions League victory for Barcelona at Celtic to put the Catalan giants in the driving seat for the last-16 return leg at the Nou Camp in a fortnight.

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Lionel Messi scores the first of his two goals to help Barcelona claim a thrilling win in Glasgow.

The Scottish side had twice taken the lead through Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson but their efforts were cancelled out by Messi and Thierry Henry respectively.

Just when the Scottish champions looked set to hold on for a draw, Argentina star Messi grabbed a late winner to inflict Celtic's first Champions League home defeat since 2004.

Celtic drew first blood in an open attacking contest, by taking the lead in the 16th minute. Aiden McGeady's attempted cross from the left was knocked back out to Lee Naylor but his delivery was powered home by the head of Vennegoor of Hesselink past goalkeeper Victor Valdes from 10 meters out.

But Barca levelled two minutes later when Andres Iniesta and Messi played a one-two inside the Celtic penalty area and, despite Naylor's attempted clearance, the ball looped over Artur Boruc off the little Barca striker and into the net.

The game looked to have turned in the visitors' favor but there was more drama in the 38th minute when McGeady turned inside Iniesta, lofted the ball in to the Barcelona penalty area and Robson stretched to lift his header over the despairing Valdes from just inside the box.

Stunned Barca began the second half impressively but their equaliser in the 52nd minute came only after Celtic defender Gary Caldwell carelessly gave the ball straight to Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian superstar quickly moved it on to Henry on the left-hand side of the penalty area and the Frenchman took a touch before curling the ball past Boruc.

Barcelona should have taken the lead in the 75th minute when substitute Xavi planted a free-kick right onto the head of Gabriel Milito but Boruc blocked the close-range header.

However, just four minutes later, Barca scored the decisive winner. Messi got the break of the ball inside the Celtic penalty area, dragged it back on to his left foot and curled a wonderful shot past Boruc.

Celtic were denied a late penalty after substitute Georgios Samaras tumbled in the box. The home fans protested but, when the final whistle sounded soon after, they gave both sets of players a standing ovation as they left the field. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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