Lionel Messi inspires Barcelona to comfortable victory over Manchester United

Lionel Messi’s quickfire first-half double ensured there were no nerves for Barcelona as they easily dispatched of Manchester United 3-0 in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.

The Argentine fired in a beautiful strike from the edge of the area on 16 minutes, before David De Gea failed to make a routine stop from a weak shot and gifted Messi and Barca a second just four minutes later.

Phillippe Coutinho’s 25-yarder made it three on the hour-mark and although Marcus Rashford did hit the bar in the very first minute, the hosts were in cruise control as soon as Messi opened the scoring and United never looked like staging an improbable comeback.

United will now focus on finishing in the top four to earn Champions League football next year, while Barca have all-but-secured the La Liga title and will face Liverpool or Porto in the semi-final next month after the 4-0 aggregate victory.

AS IT HAPPENED: Barcelona 3-0 Man United

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Despite the end result, United started brightly and hit the bar after just 30 seconds. Rashford was fed through by Paul Pogba, set himself and toe-poked a shot onto the top of the bar. Scott McTominay then found himself with space in the Barca box, only for his first touch to let him down and the opportunity to pass.

Then there was controversy as referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot following a Fred challenge on Ivan Rakitic. Replays showed he got the ball and after briefly consulting the video screen on the side of the pitch, the ruling was overturned.

Not that Barca were kept at bay for long and it was that man Messi who got the goal. He stole the ball off Ashley Young after a poor touch, skipped past Fred and placed a left-footed shot into the far corner with precision. De Gea simply had no chance.

But four minutes later De Gea turned into the villain. This time Messi stole the ball off Fred, drove at Phil Jones and let fly with his right foot. It was weak and should have been a simple save for the Spaniard. It wasn’t though, as the ball squirmed under his body and into the net. Tie over.

United’s frustration showed as Pogba was booked for twice trying to trip Arthur as he broke away and they should have been 3-0 behind at the break.

Messi mesmerised Jones on the halfway line, broke into the United half and slipped Jordi Alba in down the left. He passed the ball to the back-post for Sergi Roberto, who simply had to score, only to fire the ball straight at the covering De Gea. Anywhere else was a goal.

Messi continued to toy with the United defence and only a strong Chris Smalling blocked stopped him getting his hat-trick shortly after the break.

Coutinho, who has been linked with a move to United in recent weeks, did make it three. Firing a wonderful effort into the top corner from 25 yards out, before putting his fingers into his ears – presumably a message to his doubters that he isn’t listening.

A long-range Jesse Lingard effort looked like being the closest United came to a consolation, his fierce drive narrowly flying over the bar, before Alexis Sanchez’s near-post header was fantastically kept out by Marc Ter Stegen.

And Messi nearly had the final say, but saw De Gea beat away his final chance to secure a hat-trick in added-on time.

In the end it was a harrowing night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his side – a reminder of just how far away they are from competing for the biggest trophies. Now they must turn their attention to the race for the top-four, starting with a trip to Everton on Sunday before the Manchester derby next Wednesday.