Barcelona: World player of the year Lionel Messi two goals from the spot ensured that Defending Champions keep their title hopes alive and move into the semifinals of the 2012 UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp here on Tuesday. On a day where odds were raked up high against Barca two goals by Messi and a beautifully struck goal by Andres Iniesta helped them beat AC Milan 3-1 and ease into the last four on a 3-1 aggregate.

Messi scored his 13th goal of the season in the 11th to send the defending champions a 1-0 up. But Milan pulled one back after Antonio Nocerino scored for them.
Just when it was looking that the match would into the breather with a 1-1 deadlock, Messi scored the second from the spot to restore the lead.

After the change of ends, Barca started off well and scored a goal early into the second half after Messi set up Iniesta who right footer from a goalmouth melee found the far corner of the net. After the goal Barca started playing cautiously eventually ending the match 3-1. They became only the second team in the history of the competition to make it to the semis for five consecutive times.

Meanwhile goals by Ivica Olic and Toni Kroos helped Bayern Munich beat Marseille 2-0 and move into the semis of Champions League by the virtue of 4-0 aggregate.

Four times champions would now face off against Real Madrid or APOEL Nicosia.

By Indian Sports News Network