Messi opens the scoring with a sublime left‑footed shot from the centre of the box into the top‑left corner after Barcelona’s short passing around the area, finishing a move initiated by Xavi.

Right after his goal, Messi threads a pass to David Villa in the box, but Mexès recovers to snuff out the danger before a shot can be taken.

Messi combines in tight triangles and slaloms past two Milan defenders before being fairly tackled just outside the box, to the frustration of the home crowd.

Alves crosses and Messi heads the ball back to Iniesta on the edge of the box; Iniesta’s fierce shot is tipped by Abbiati onto the post and Messi narrowly fails to reach the rebound header.

Hemmed in by multiple Milan defenders, Messi wriggles away with the ball in Maradona‑like fashion, escaping pressure that seemed certain to dispossess him.

Abate’s dreadful backpass nearly lets Messi in as he chases the long ball, Abbiati misjudges it and Pedro arrives, but Zapata clears before Barcelona can capitalize.

Messi delicately dinks a cross into the area, where Busquets’ header deflects off Mexès and rolls behind, just beyond Barcelona’s reach.

Messi sprints into space but is hauled down by Constant or Ambrosini, drawing a foul in a dangerous area though no card is shown.

Montolivo dispossesses Messi and launches a counter, sending El Shaarawy through to shoot, but his effort is dragged and Valdés saves comfortably.

Iniesta wins the ball high and feeds Messi, who cuts inside from distance and lashes a left‑footed shot through Mexès’ legs into the bottom‑right corner for his second of the night.

Constant loses possession and Messi bursts clear, but Zapata sticks with him and forces a tame shot that Abbiati saves without trouble.

Ambrosini cynically brings down Messi in midfield, underlining Milan’s tiring efforts to contain him.

Messi slides a pass into Villa inside the box, but Villa’s attempted flick back finds no Messi run and the move breaks down.

Mexès is booked for a foul on Messi, a challenge that will see the defender suspended for Milan’s next European match.

Receiving the ball under pressure, Messi turns and wriggles away from markers before Montolivo times his tackle perfectly to dispossess him.

From around 35 yards, Messi takes control and unleashes a speculative effort that flies over the bar, fooling some in the Camp Nou who thought it was in.

Muntari’s first involvement is to foul Messi, adding to the heavy physical attention the Argentine has absorbed all evening.

Messi floats a free‑kick into the box, where Busquets heads across goal, but Abbiati comes out decisively to claim the ball.

Barcelona’s intricate passing on the edge of the area ends with Messi being fouled by Zapata, winning a dangerous free‑kick.

Taking the resulting free‑kick himself, Messi smashes his effort straight into the wall and then overhits a delicate chip from the rebound.

On the right flank, Messi appears to have the ball tied to his foot as he dribbles past about three Milan players before finally running out of space.

Messi combines with Busquets and drives at the heart of Milan’s defence before slipping a pass to Alexis Sánchez, who cannot retain possession.

Messi takes over in attack and attempts to curl a shot similar to his opener, but this time it is blocked by the defence, sparking a Milan break.

Messi leads a late attack, feeding Jordi Alba with a precise pass that sends him through to slip the ball under Abbiati for Barcelona’s fourth.