European Champions League

Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - Barcelona 2

Shakhtar: Pyatov; Srna, Chygrynskiy, Ischchenko, Shevchuk; Hübschman; Ilsinho (Willian 86'), Duljaj (Lewandowski 93'), Fernandinho, Brandão; Luiz Adriano (Seleznov 72'). 4-1-4-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Daniel Alves, Piqué, Márquez, Puyol; Xavi, Touré Yayá, Keita (Gudjohnsen 81'); Iniesta, Etoo (Bojan 74'), Henry (Messi 60'). 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 45. Ilsinho. Ran on to long ball from midfield and held off Puyol to score.
1-1. 88. Messi. Turned ball in from a yard out after Pyatov spilled Bojan cross.
1-2. 94. Messi. Ran on to Xavi pass on left of area and chipped shot over keeper.

Two goals in the last six minutes from Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a late win at Shakhtar Donetsk. Both sides came in to the game having won their opening ties, and although Henry tested Pyatov early on, Fernandinho went close a couple of times and Valdés had to save another chance from Fernandinho. And with the first half coming to an end, Piqué could only head a long punt by Shevchuk in to the path of Ilsinho, who held off Puyol to score.

Pyatov saved from Alves and Henry headed another chance wide as Barça came looking for the equaliser, but after a while Guardiola decided to turn to Messi, who he had been resting in view of the long calendar ahead. Within minutes the new man sent Eto'o away, but for once the striker stumbled as he approached the goal and his shot went wide. Valdés did well to block a fierce drive from Srna soon afterwards, and substitute Bojan made his mark with a shot into the side netting after a determined run.

With two minutes to go though Messi equalised with a controversial goal after the keeper spilled Bojan's cross in to his path, the local players claiming that Barcelona should have returned the ball after a defender cleared in to touch with a colleague on the ground. It was not at all obvious though as the clearance was made under pressure in an attack and the injured player himself was back on his feet before the throw-in was taken, and the Barça players said afterwards that they felt that the player to kicked the ball out had not even realised his colleague was down.

Whatever the case the Catalans were level, and Shakhtar made a defensive change to protect the point. Iniesta had a penalty claim turned down as the game went in to extra time, and in the 94th minute Xavi produced a defence-splitting pass which Messi coolly picked up to chip the ball past the keeper. A last minute controversial victory? It's getting to be a bit of a habit!