Messi mauls Stuttgart to send Barca through

Barca8217;s victory sent them through to the last eight for a third successive season and kept Spanish hopes alive after the elimination of La Liga sides Real Madrid and Sevilla.

Coach Pep Guardiola left Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of his starting line-up at the Nou Camp,opting to field a forward three of Messi,Thierry Henry and Pedro.

Henry,making a rare start,had the first effort on goal in the second minute,the France captain running on to a Messi through ball and testing Lehmann with a powerful strike.

The champions looked edgy in the early stages but Messi settled their nerves with a trademark run and finish.

After collecting the ball just inside the visitors8217; half,he raced toward the retreating Stuttgart defence before unleashing a left-foot shot that fizzed past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann high into the net.

The FIFA World Player of the Year turned creator nine minutes later. A superbly weighted pass sent Yaya Toure clear on the left and forward Pedro timed his run to perfection to sweep home the Ivory Coast midfielder8217;s low cross.

More smart work from Messi set up Toure in the 55th but his low drive flew just wide of Lehmann8217;s right-hand post.

Messi beat Lehmann again with a low strike from the edge of the area on the hour to effectively end Stuttgart8217;s hopes,his eighth goal in four matches in all competitions.

As Barca asserted their dominance,a rampant Messi almost completed his hat-trick with a header in the 68th but Lehmann saved before Krkic wrapped things up,a minute after replacing Andres Iniesta.