Messi pleased with ‘important’ win for Barca

Posted Thursday, February 16, 2012 by Tribune

Following a brace from Sanchez, Messi provided the icing on the cake as he converted a cross from Alves in the 88th minute to give the defending champions a significant advantage before the second-leg at the Nou Camp.

Superstar Lionel Messi admitted he was relieved to leave with a 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen which puts Barcelona on the verge of the Champions League quarter-finals after the round-of-16 first-leg clash.

Holders Barcelona took a giant step towards the last-eight with a convincing win following a slow start as maestro Messi put in an impressive display after a quiet first-half.

Messi admitted it had not been an easy match against the Germans who put on a plucky display.

“It was important for us to win this match, because under coach Pep Guardiola we’ve never won the first match in the round-of-16,” said Messi ahead of the return-leg on March 7. “We knew it would be complicated to play against the
Germans. It’s always nice to score a goal, but the important thing was the result for the team.”

Goals either side of half-time from Alexis Sanchez put Barcelona into the lead before Messi claimed a late strike after converting a Dani Alves cross.

Czech Republic defender Michal Kadlec had put Leverkusen level with a well-timed header at the start of the second-half, but the hosts squandered chances to earn a draw before Messi’s 88th-minute goal put the result beyond doubt. Guardiola was a satisfied man after the result.

“The second-half was good, we used the space better after we took the lead,” said Guardiola. “We can be happy with the performance we put on, we’ve given ourselves a good chance now for the return-leg. We know that the Germans play a good long-ball game so we’ll have to be careful in the second-leg.”
Lyon down APOEL

Elsewhere, Lyon deserved their 1-0 win against an APOEL Nicosia side that relied on the safety-first tactics that have paid off so handsomely so far this season. Alexandre Lacazette got the only goal shortly before the hour mark and coach Remi
Garde was relieved to have got the win and for his side.

“We would’ve preferred to score a second goal and push APOEL further back,” he said. “But I’m not disappointed because we did the maximum against a side that has caused problems for other teams.”

United up for the cup: Hernandez

Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez says the English giants are determined to launch a full-blooded assault on the Europa League as they prepare to make their debut in the competition today against Ajax after the shock of failing to qualify for the Champions League’s knockout stages.

“Both teams have come out of the Champions League and they both have a great history,” said Hernandez. “It’ll be an interesting game. The history of Manchester United is such that it doesn’t matter which competition you’re in, we want to win it, no matter who else is in it, or whether it’s an important trophy for other teams.”