Barcelona CaptainLionel Messi scored a brace as Barcelona strolled past Manchester United and into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in four years, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was not enough for Juventus against giant-killing Ajax.

Messi’s first-half goals – the second a gift from David de Gea – and Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant strike helped Barca to a 3-0 victory on Tuesday night and 4-0 overall over United.

The return of United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the Nou Camp, where he scored a last-gasp 2-1 over Bayern Munich in the 1999 final, brought no new joy as the Red Devils were unable to produce another upset after ousting Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round.

Like in the first leg, Ronaldo headed Juve ahead but his dream of a sixth personal title was ended by goals from Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt as Ajax won 2-1

The Dutch four-time champions have now ousted both 2018 finalists, after they stunned three-time reigning champions Real Madrid in the last 16.

Five-time winners Barca will face either Porto or Liverpool in the last four while Ajax are awaiting the winner of the Premier League duel between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.


The semi-finals are April 30/May 1 and May 7/8, with the June 1 final at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

Barca survived an early scare when Marcus Rashford fired onto the top of the bar with less than a minute gone.

The hosts were on top in the 16th when United lost the ball in their half. Messi ran past two defenders and curled into the bottom left corner from just outside the area.

Four minutes later goalkeeper de Gea let Messi’s tame shot slip under his body and into the net for 2-0 and the Argentine’s 110th goal of the competition.

De Gea partly redeemed himself by stopping Sergi Roberto’s shot at the far post.

Messi almost had a hat-trick when his bicycle kick in the 64th flew just wide of the goal.

In-between Coutinho had found the top right corner from long range for Barca’s third.

Juve led at home in the 28th with their talisman Ronaldo nodding home off a corner kick for his 126th goal in the competition.

But Ajax were level six minutes later whe Van de Beek controlled what appeared to be an attempted shot and kept his cool to slot into the bottom right corner.

De Ligt’s thumping header off a corner in the 67th put the visitors ahead on the night and in the tie and they held on for a famous victory.

‘Only one goat’

Fans certainly saw the irony that Messi had thrived on a night where Ronaldo was ousted. See a few comments:https://www.newsblenda.com/post/football/there-can-only-be-one-goat-fans-astounded-by-magical-messi.html

The one true GOAT. 6th ballon door loading. in other news--"we bought him to win champions league" laugh in Spanish.

Hardwork will take you far, TALENT will keep you there effortlessly. MESSI IS FOOTBALL

This man is a mystery