Ibrahimović cleverly chests the ball down in the box and plays Messi through, but Rubin’s defence crowds him out before he can shoot and Ryzhikov gathers. It’s a promising opening that just slips away.

After Noboa’s failed throughball, Barcelona counter and work the ball to Messi in the area, but once again he’s shut down before he can get a shot away. Rubin’s back line keeps him firmly in check.

Messi bursts forward and lets fly from about 30 yards, but the ball bobbles as he strikes it and the effort skews wide of the target. It’s an ambitious attempt rather than a clear chance.

Messi draws a foul in midfield, winning Barcelona a free-kick as he’s brought down while trying to advance. His close control forces Rubin to stop him illegally.

Messi slaloms past two defenders and tries to slide a pass around the back for Ibrahimović, but the ball is easily intercepted and the move breaks down. The buildup is brilliant, but the final ball is missing.

Early in the second half Messi again tries to unlock Rubin with a throughball, but the defence reads it comfortably and clears. He’s struggling to find a telling pass in his central role.

Messi switches it up by dribbling past two men before feeding Ibrahimović, yet Rubin’s defenders recover to clear the danger. It’s one of his brighter combinations of the night but still yields nothing.

Looking for Alves on the flank, Messi misplaces a pass after another dribbling move and the attack fizzles out. Even his usually precise distribution is slightly off.

Iniesta swings in a cross as Barcelona ramp up the pressure, and Messi almost gets a break in the box, but Rubin just about manages to clear. It’s a half-chance that never quite opens up.

Iniesta finds Messi on the edge of the area and Messi darts forward with a burst of pace, but he’s forced wide and settles for winning a corner rather than fashioning a shot. Rubin’s positioning steers him away from goal.

Iniesta nearly threads a pass to Messi in space inside the box, but a Rubin defender stretches out a toe to intercept at the last moment. Another dangerous situation is snuffed out.

As Barcelona break after Rubin lose possession, Semak cynically hauls Messi down in midfield, earning a yellow card. Messi’s surge through the centre draws a desperate foul.

With Barcelona probing for a late winner, Sharanov steps in with a crunching tackle on Messi, stopping his run and underlining Rubin’s physical resistance. Messi is knocked off his stride in a heavy challenge.