Barcelona produced their best performance of the season to give them a first leg lead against Celtic. Lionel Messi scored twice and Thierry Henry scored a stunning strike to steer the Blaugrana to victory in Scotland.

The last time the Boys were beaten at home in Europe was when Barça won there on September 14, 2004. Now Frank Rijkaard’s side have repeated the trick as they twice came from behind before capping an outstanding display with a winner eleven minutes from time. Celtic had only four shots at goal throughout the game, but they twice took the lead and were actually in front at the break. But a domineering second half display from the visitors saw them keep possession for long periods and eventually find a way through to take the advantage in the tie.

Good start

Barça began the game brightly as they took charge from the start as Celtic allowed them to have the ball and play it around the midfield. Ronaldinho was back in the starting line-up and he looked keen to impress as he produced a range of passing and tricks. Johan Neeskens was on the bench as Rijkaard was up in the stands because he was suspended after being sent off against Lyon. The rhythm of the visitors was good and Andrés Iniesta had the first clear chance as he forced Artur Boruc into a flying save moment before Caddis headed Thierry Henry’s shot off the line.

Quick reaction

The home side then took the lead on the quarter of an hour mark as Venegoor of Hesselink beat Milito to a cross from the angle of the area and nodded inside Valdés' near post. Within three minutes the Blaugrana were level. Messi cut in from the right and a superb interchange of passes with Deco saw the Portuguese find his teammate and the Argentinian lifted the ball into the top far corner of Boruc's net.

Unbelievable

Barcelona upped their game once again and their next chance came just a minute before they fell behind for the second time as Henry shot over after being picked out by Abidal. Seven minutes before the break Aiden McGeady lifted the ball into the area and Robson had come forward, as McDonald and Hesselink ran back, and the new boy lobbed a header over Valdés from 16 yards.

Henry impresses

Just seven minutes after the restart, however, Celtic's resistance was broken as Henry scored a stunning goal. Gary Caldwell passed the ball straight to Ronaldinho and he found the Frenchman on the left and he ventured to the angle of the area before curling an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net. It was no more than Barça deserved as they continued to dominate and they were allowed to keep the ball for incredible lengths of time and pass it around the edge of the Celtic area.

Messi gets his reward

A sudden burst of speed from Messi saw him move in from the right only to take aim and shoot straight at the keeper in the 62nd minute before Henry clipped Éric Abidal's low cross just wide. Gaby Milito nodded straight at the keeper from close range and it was not long before a third goal was to come. Eto'o's pass in from the right had ricocheted into Messi's path off two Celtic defenders before the Argentinian turned away from Caldwell and placed the ball just beyond Boruc and into the far corner of the net.