Four first half goals in a devastating 42-minute spell booked Barcelona a place in the last eight of the Champions League against Olympique Lyon on Wednesday night.
The sides went into the return leg in the Camp Nou Stadium on the back of a 1-1 draw in France two weeks ago. That result meant a 0-0 draw would see Barcelona through, but the Catalans did not want to take any risks and showed their best form in an incredible first half.
Thierry Henry opened the scoring on 24 minutes with an individual effort and doubled Barcelona's advantage two minutes later following a pass from Xavi Hernandez.
Barcelona's strikers had not been on their best form of late, but six minutes from the break Leo Messi made it 3-0 after receiving a pass from Samuel Eto'o.
Eto'o made it 4-0 after 42 minutes and it looked as if the party was ready to start in Barcelona's ground.
However, Lyon pulled a goal back just a minute later as Jean Makoun headed home from a corner. Juninho scored another for the visitors three minutes into the second half, but then Barcleona were able to control the game effectively.
Juninho was sent off for a second yellow card just as the game was drawing to a close, but there was still time for Seydou Keita to score Barcelona's fifth of the night to send his side through with a convincing 5-2 on the night and an aggregate of 6-3.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)
