The Lionel Messi Show lifts Barcelona in Champions League

Lionel Messi once again gave evidence as to why he is widely considered the best player on the planet as he darted through the Stuttgart defense scoring two and setting up another.  Barcelona came home to the Nou Camp even 1-1 after the first leg in Germany and were very confident of being able to take care of business advancing to the quarterfinals of Champions League play.

Barcelona were on the front foot right from the start and the Stuttgart backline could not plug the holes.  Barcelona players Messi, Yaya Toure and Pedro were finding the gaps all evening long.  It only took 13 minutes for Lionel Messi to make his mark as he picked up a ball near the center line and took aim at the Stuttgart defense.  He raced forward, cutting left right into the heart of four German defenders where he rifled a shot high into the net.  The four Stuttgart players could do nothing more than shrug as Messi raced off in celebration.

Only 9 minutes later and the lead was two.  This time Lionel Messi was the provider as his perfect pass released Yaya Toure into the Stuttgart penalty area drawing the keeper to him.  Toure played square and found the running Pedro to put into the empty net.  Barcelona were on their way.  The rest of the first half was nothing more than a clinic in possession as Barca held the ball for long stretches.  The Germans were clearly outclassed.

Lionel Messi would strike again right on the hour mark making it 3-0.  Pedro's lovely backheel allowed Messi to spin and fire home.  Veteran German keeper Jens Lehman denied Messi his hat trick in the 69th minute as he stoned him from close range, but the damage had been done far earlier in the match.  Messi went for his hat trick again in the dying minutes as he raced in once again on the Stuttgart net only to see his deft flick drift just wide.  Substitute Bojan Krkic grabbed the fourth on literally his first touch since arriving on the pitch.

Barcelona goes into the draw for the Champions League quarterfinals and will be the one team nobody wants to face next.  Lionel Messi is in true form notching 8 goals in his last 4 matches and looks to be going head to head with Wayne Rooney for World Player of the Year.