Lionel Messi powers Barca into Champions league QF

TIL Desk Sports/ A magical performance by Leo Messi — two goals and an assist  vaulted Barcelona into the quarterfinals of the 2017-2018 Champions League with a 3-0 win here over Chelsea in the second leg of their round of 16 tie. With the score knotted at 1-1 after the first leg in London, both sides knew the importance of scoring the first goal.

But the Blues found themselves trailing before their first touch on Wednesday, with Messi scoring at close range barely two minutes into the contest to the delight of the 97,000-plus crowd in the stands at Camp Nou. The Argentine superstar smiled broadly and dedicated the goal to his newborn son, Ciro.

With their original game plan in tatters, Chelsea were forced to go forward behind Eden Hazard and the visitors dominated possession for the next 18 minutes, though the only real threat was a Willian shot that forced a save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 12th minute.

In the 20th minute, however, Messi stole the ball from Cesc Fabregas and blew past Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen before he dished off to Ous mane Dembele rushing forward on his right and the Frenchman beat Thibaut Courtois for his first goal in a Barca shirt.