Silencing the critics in style

Barcelona script sensational 4-0 win over the Italians in return leg; Galatasaray progress

Lionel Messi’s Barcelona gave an emphatic response to the doubters when they made Champions League history by overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit to oust seven-times European Cup winners AC Milan on Tuesday.

Messi’s superb double set Barca on their way in the first half at a raucous but desperately tense Nou Camp and David Villa and Jordi Alba struck after the break to send the La Liga side through to the quarterfinals 4-2 on aggregate.

They became the first team in Europe’s elite club competition to ever overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit without the benefit of an away goal and are one of only five sides to fight back from more than one goal down.

“We will remember this for years to come,” Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta told Spanish television. “Messi’s two goals put us in a strong position, Villa’s was very important and Alba gave everyone exactly what they wanted with the fourth,” added the former Barca and Spain goalkeeper.

There was talk of the end of an era after a poor run of form saw Barca eliminated from the King’s Cup and beaten in La Liga by arch-rivals Real Madrid following the reverse to Milan at the San Siro last month. Barca’s dream of a third European crown in five years appeared to be in tatters. Messi, Champions League top scorer the past four seasons, was accused of failing to perform on the big occasions but proved on Tuesday against Milan that it was folly to question his form.

For all Messi’s brilliance, Tuesday’s match should be remembered as a superb team effort. Playmakers Xavi and Andres Iniesta provided creative spark, Sergio Busquets was immense in central midfield and Alba and fellow full-back Daniel Alves gave Barca the width and penetration they lacked in the first leg.

Assistant Barca coach Jordi Roura, standing in for Tito Vilanova while he has cancer treatment in New York, will also be delighted that his decision to deploy Villa up front alongside Messi and Pedro paid off so handsomely.

Although he saw relatively little of the ball, the Spain striker was a handful for Milan centre-backs Philippe Mexes and Cristian Zapata, helping create space for Messi to exploit, and his goal was beautifully taken.

“It's a tremendous joy,” Villa told reporters. “We should enjoy this and right now I don’t care about our opponents in the quarterfinals.”

The draw for the last-eight will be made on Friday, with Real, Juventus, Paris St Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray already through along with Barca.