Messi shines as Barca thump Bayern 3-0 in CL first-leg semis

Lionel Messi scored a brace as Barcelona produced a late tactical brilliance to clinch a 3-0 win over a stubborn Bayern Munich side in the Champions League first-leg semifinal tie on Wednesday night at the Camp Nou.

Following a goalless first-half, Messi broke the impasse in the 77th minute by firing home a low shot home from the edge of the area, the BBC reported.

The Argentine talisman doubled the lead three minutes later as he skipped past Jerome Boateng with a quick dribble before Neymar added a third shortly before the full-time.

With his double strikes, Messi moved to 77 Champions League goals, again going ahead of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in their own battle for the all-time record.

 

The two European giants will meet again in the second-leg tie on May 13 at Allianz Arena in Munich.