Messi's eight Champions League goals this season Continues

M'Baye Niang nearly equalized for Milan with a shot off the upright, but Barcelona made the visitors pay moments later. After a quick counter, Messi scored his second of the night despite appearing to be offside when Iniesta played the final pass.

David Villa scored Barca's third in the 55th minute to make it 3-2 on aggregate, and Jordi Alba added the clinching fourth in stoppage time.
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In the quarterfinals, Messi scored the opener after creative work by Dani Alves in the 38th minute as Barcelona drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. Messi left the match at halftime with a hamstring injury, and his fitness became a key storyline in the buildup to the second leg.

PSG vs Barcelona

The Argentine returned in the second half of the second leg with Barca trailing 1-0. Messi didn't score, but his introduction in the 62nd minute did change the complexion of the match.

Playing with more confidence and cohesion with Messi on the pitch, Barcelona equalized in the 71st minute through Pedro and advanced to the semifinals on away goals after a 1-1 draw.

Up next for Messi and Barca is a semifinal with Bayern Munich. The first leg is scheduled for Tuesday in Munich, with the return leg set for next Wednesday at the Camp Nou.

Messi's eight Champions League goals this season

Barcelona and Messi began their Champions League campaign in exciting fashion with a Group G thriller against Spartak Moscow.

Cristian Tello gave hosts Barcelona the lead in the 14th minute before Spartak replied with the next two goals. Messi saved Barca's blushes with two goals in the final 20 minutes, scoring from crosses by Tello and Alexis Sanchez.

Messi had been denied by Spartak keeper Andriy Dikan

Earlier, Messi had been denied by Spartak keeper Andriy Dikan. Moments later Romulo scored the go-ahead goal for the visitors at the other end.
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After two scoreless Champions League matches, Messi returned to the scoresheet in Barca's surprising loss at Scottish champions Celtic.

Celtic vs Barcelona

Victor Wanyama put Celtic ahead in the 21st minute before Tony Watt doubled the hosts' advantage on the break in the 83rd minute as Barca pushed for the equalizer.

Messi grabbed a consolation goal in the first minute of stoppage time, tucking in the rebound after Pedro's shot was parried.
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In the return fixture against Spartak in Moscow, Messi scored twice in the first half as Barca secured a comfortable 3-0 victory.

The goals brought Messi's total for 2012 to 80, five behind Gerd Muller's all-time record. Messi later set a new mark.

Spartak vs Barcelona

Messi scored his first, Barca's second, in the 27th minute, finishing off a rebound of Andres Iniesta's original shot. He rounded the keeper and scored his second nine minutes later, after receiving a pass from Pedro.
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Barcelona drew AC Milan in the Round of 16 and lost 2-0 in the first leg at the San Siro. Back on home turf, Messi inspired Barca to an impressive 4-0 victory that clinched a spot in the quarterfinals.

Messi needed only five minutes to put Barca ahead.

Barcelona vs AC Milan

Accepting a pass from Xavi in traffic in the Milan box, he drove an unstoppable shot into the top corner to breathe life back into Barca's Champions League challenge.

NEXT EIGHT CHAMPIONS GOALS

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi returns to team training

Barcelona says forward Lionel Messi has returned to training with the rest of his teammates in his recovery from a right hamstring pull.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi returns to team training

Barcelona hopes to have the Argentina international fully fit for Tuesday’s trip to Bayern Munich for the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
Messi did not played in Barcelona’s last two Spanish league games after injuring his leg on April 2. He went on as a substitute to help Barcelona rally past Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Messi is doubtful for Saturday’s Spanish league game against Levante.
Barcelona also said that midfielder Sergio Busquets has recovered from injury and is training with the team, while backup goalkeeper Jose Pinto is still experiencing back pain.

Messi back in full training on Friday

This is an important step in both players' recovery and particularly for Leo Messi, with Tuesday's Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich very much on the horizon.
Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, who has been carrying an injury to his right hamstring since 2nd April, resumed full training with the rest of the squad on Friday, alongside midfielder Sergio Busquets, who had already rejoined his teammates for part of Thursday's session.

Messi back in full training on Friday 04/19/2013

This is an important step in both players' recovery and particularly for Leo Messi, with Tuesday's Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich very much on the horizon. The Argentine picked up the blow in the quarter-final first leg against PSG in Paris and, although he made an influential return to the line-up for the last half hour of the second leg at the Camp Nou, he has been limited to gym work since then. Busquets, meanwhile, sat out Barcelona's last league match owing to a groin problem.

For his part, José Manuel Pinto did individual exercises in the Friday morning session, meaning Barça coach Tito Vilanova once again called up reserve-team goalkeeper Oier Olazábal to train with the first team.