From a short corner routine, Iniesta plays the ball to Messi arriving at the edge of the box, but Messi swings and miskicks from about 16 yards, wasting a big chance.

Receiving a pass from Eto'o, Messi unleashes a powerful shot from distance that rockets just over the crossbar.

Messi drives forward and is sandwiched by Rooney and Ferdinand, drawing a foul even though he emerges from the challenge still in control of the ball.

Cutting in from the left, Messi gets around his marker and sends in a cross that Van der Sar spills, but no Barcelona player is close enough to capitalize.

Messi bursts into the box onto a pass from Eto'o and goes down under contact from O'Shea, screaming for a penalty that the referee refuses to give.

Messi scores with a superb looping header, guiding Xavi's measured cross back across Van der Sar into the far corner to make it 2-0.

Messi carries the ball and is heavily clattered by Evra, one of several robust challenges as Barcelona look to see out the game.

In stoppage time Messi is barged into by Vidić, who receives a yellow card as Barcelona’s bench already begins to celebrate the impending victory.