Messi bags a brace for Barca

GROUP D:Lionel Messi struck twice to fire Barcelona to a 2-0 victory over FC Copenhagen and lift the La Liga side to the top of the standings.

Barca had long periods of possession at a balmy Nou Camp stadium but found it tough to break down a well-drilled Copenhagen side who tirelessly harried the home players to deny them space and time.

Messi netted his third goal of this season’s competition in the 19th minute when he controlled a pass from Andres Iniesta and lashed the ball into the top left corner from just outside the penalty area.

The home side controlled the match comfortably enough but lacked cutting edge and Messi had to wait until added time for his second. The ball fell to the Argentina forward two yards out and he tapped it over the line with the goalkeeper stranded.

Panathinaikos remain rooted to the foot of the group after Rubin Kazan held the Greek champions to a goalless draw in a tense encounter in Athens.

Chances were hard to come by, with the Russian outfit posing a greater attacking threat, striker Sergei Kornilenko going close on several occasions.

For Panathinaikos, Djibril Cisse was far too often isolated as the home side’s lone striker.

The result leaves Panathinaikos with a difficult task to turn their campaign around as the Greens have just one point from three matches.

GROUP B: Olympique Lyon maintained their perfect record with a 2-0 home win against 10-man Benfica. Goals by Jimmy Briand and Lisandro Lopez each side of the interval were enough for Lyon to lead Group B with nine points, three ahead of Schalke 04, who beat Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-1. Benfica have three points, Hapoel none.