Champions League: Messi sinks Chelsea, Bayern into quarters

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Lionel Messi scored a brace as Barcelona knocked Chelsea out of the last-16 stage of the UEFA Champions at the Nou Camp Stadium on Wednesday.

Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the visitors fell behind after just 2 minutes as Messi drew the first blood, shooting through the legs of the Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from a tight angle.

The Argentine striker then assisted Ousmane Dembele to hammer home the second. Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso struck the post with a free-kick before Messi's 100th Champions League goal sealed the game for the Catalan giants.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona is challenged by N'Golo Kante of Chelsea and Antonio Rudiger of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match FC Barcelona and Chelsea. /VCG photo

The easy 3-0 victory (4-1 on aggregate) helped Barcelona join La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Sevilla in Friday's quarter-final draw. While the defeat means the English side joining fellow Premier League clubs, Manchester United and Tottenham, in exiting in the first knockout round.

Sandro Wagner (top) of Bayern Munich in action during the UEFA Champions League Round 16 return match between Besiktas and FC Bayern Munich at Vodafone Park in Istanbul, Turkey. /VCG photo

In another Champions League game of the night, Bayern Munich stormed into quarter-finals for the seventh successive year with a 3-1 thumping victory over Besiktas.

Leading with 5-0 on aggregate after the first leg, the German giants took a lead with an early goal by Thiago in Istanbul. An own goal by Gokhan Gonul doubled Bayern's lead, before Vagner Love reduced the margin.

However, Sandro Wagner tapped in to accomplish a comfortable win for Bayern.