Messi rescues Barcelona from embarrassing home defeat to Spartak
Posted Thursday, September 20, 2012 by Dailymail
Barcelona avoided a shock at home to Spartak Moscow as Lionel Messi scored twice in the final 19 minutes to earn them a 3-2 victory.
Cristian Tello put Barca ahead in the 14th minute but an own goal from Dani Alves and a second-half strike from Borges Romulo saw Spartak turn the game on its head and leave the Nou Camp shellshocked.
Messi, as he so often is, was Barca's hero though as he scored in the 71st and 80th minutes to leave Tito Vilanova's men top of Group G, with the other match seeing Celtic and Benfica draw 0-0.
That was close! Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona beat Spartak Moscow
Manchester United are now second in Group F behind behind CFR Cluj, who beat Braga 2-0 away following a classy first-half brace from Brazilian striker Rafael Bastos.
In Group H, Bayern Munich and BATE Borisov both started their campaigns with victories. Bayern beat Valencia 2-1 with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos on the scoresheet for the Germans with the Spanish side pulling a goal back late on through Nelson Haedo Valdez.
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