Just like on Montjuïc four days before, it was not until the very last moments that justice was done as a brace from the Argentinian forward won the game for the visitors in Donetsk. In a match of few chances at either end it was always going to take something special to claim all three points and Messi was able to produce just that.
Shakhtar complicated Barça's task by taking the lead before the break with a goal on the counter-attack. In the second half the hosts sat back even more, but Eto'o and Bojan both had chances before the Blaugrana finally drew level in the 87th minute thanks to a mistake by Andriy Pyatov that saw the ball slip through his hands. Not content with a point though, Barça pushed forward in the closing moments and Messi was able to show why he is so highly-rated with a superb finish to win the match for his team.The home team was conscious of how important the game was for their aspirations to qualify for the next stage and did not want to take too many risks and allow Barça much space. After a bright opening, Shakhtar then sat back and the visitors took control but, unlike in previous games, they had to maintain possession in their own half and across the middle because an advanced Shakhtar side pressed them back and kept the ball away from their area.
The best chance for Barcelona in the opening stages came in the sixth minute when a superb pass through the middle found Thierry Henry clear and he was able to take one touch to control the ball before shooting, only for a good save from the keeper to deny him the opener. Fernandinho then looked to test Víctor Valdés, but it was the away team that maintained the pressure and ensured that their opponents had to keep several players back on the edge of their own area at all times. With Henry and Eto'o looking for space in front of goal and Iniesta creating down the flanks, Xavi was able to use his creative touches more and more.
Alves then kept Pyatov's eye in with a shot from outside the area shortly before Shakhtar tested Valdés. Brandão Broke forward in the 37th minute and picked out Luiz Adriano and he in turn found Ilsinho, but the Catalan custodian was prepared and made a superb save to tip the shot over the bar. The home side were not finished though and took the lead a minute before half time. A high ball forward was flicked on by Piqué and Ilsinho held off the challenge from Puyol before clipping the ball over the approaching Valdés.
With a one goal lead, Shakhtar looked to protect that and Barça controlled the second period from start to finish. Alves tested the keeper shortly after the restart with a low free-kick that was tipped round the post. Messi then entered the game just before the hour mark in place of Henry and he quickly showed a few touches that would later be used to undo Shakhtar's stubborn resistance. His first contribution was a superb pass through the middle to Eto'o and the Cameroonian forward looked set to score before losing his balance at the crucial moment before prodding the ball wide of the post. Bojan then came on and he almost scored too after steering his way into the area before shooting into the side-netting.
When the equaliser came it was at a time when Shakhtar were looking to wind down the clock and see out time. Justice was served though in an unexpected way as Krkic's cross was fumbled by Pyatov and Messi was in the right place to steer home from close range.
At 1-1 the game was there for Barcelona to take and, while they could have accepted a point, they moved forward in search of all three. In the 92nd minute they produced a superb move as Xavi's pass behind the defence found Messi and he superbly clipped it over the approaching keeper and into the net to win the game.
The victory sees Barça move clear at the top of Group C with six points.
Source: FC Barcelona Press
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