Lionel Messi scored a brace as Barcelona came from behind twice to claim a 3-2 away victory over Celtic and move close to advancing to the Champions League quarters. Efforts from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson were cancelled out by Messi and French striker Thierry Henry. Argentinean talented playmaker Messi notched home 11 minutes from time to lead the Catalans to a precious victory. Celtic will have an uphill to climb if they are to make a huge upset at Nou Camp in the second-leg on March fourth. Vennegoor put the hosts ahead after 16 minutes when he dived to head Lee Naylor's cross past Barca keeper Victor Valdes. Messi drew Barcelona level just two minutes later when he played a neat one-two with Deco to go clear and fire home into the roof of the net. Some sloppy defending from Barcelona allowed Robson to restore Celtic's lead seven minutes before the break. Aiden McGeady skipped past Carles Puyol on the right, cut inside before whipping in a cross for Robson, who rose above Gabriel Milito to head past the bad-positioned Valdes. Henry equalized for the visitors again in the 52nd minute after he latched onto Ronaldinho's through pass before unleashing a powerful drive into the right top corner. Messi sealed the victory for Barcelona in the 79th minute when a poor clearance from Celtic defense allowed him to score his sixth goal of the tournament.
