Sanchez double helps Barcelona sink Leverkusen; Lyon edge APOEL

By Barry Whelan Feb 14, 2012, 22:17 GMT

Berlin - Alexis Sanchez scored twice and Lionel Messi hit a late goal as Barcelona shrugged off recent poor domestic form to earn a 3-1 victory at Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the Champions League Tuesday.

Sanchez scored in the 41st and 55th minutes, his second coming three minutes after Leverkusen had given themselves hope with a Michal Kadlec header, before Messi made it three with two minutes left.

The win leaves the European champions well placed to reach the quarter-finals in the second leg at home on March 7.

'It was a bit more difficult in the second half but on the whole it was a good result,' Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola told Sky television.

'But you should never underestimate a German team. We saw in the second half what they were capable of.'

In Lyon, surprise qualifiers APOEL Nicosia held the French side for 58 minutes before going down to a deflected shot by striker Alexandre Lacazette.

Barcelona, aiming to become the first team to repeat the European title since AC Milan in 1990, were without midfield general Xavi and defender Gerard Pique for a match which followed a 3-2 league defeat at Osasuna Saturday.

But Guardiola's side soon slipped into their stride against a cautious Leverkusen who defended in numbers and had little offer up front.

The longer the game progressed the greater Barcelona's stranglehold on the game became and the visitors were eventually rewarded four minutes before half-time when Leverkusen were drawn forward following a goal-kick by keeper Bernd Leno.

The ball fell to Messi in the middle of the pitch and the Argentinian quickly found Sanchez who was able to advance on Leno before slotting the ball through the keeper's legs.

Leverkusen dragged themselves back in the game with a rare attack when Barcelona failed to clear their lines and Vedran Corluka crossed from the right for Kadlec to outjump Sanchez.

Three minutes later Cesc Fabregas threaded a perfect ball through to Sanchez, and the Chilean brushed off Manuel Friedrich's challenge before taking the ball past Leno to angle the ball home.

Leverkusen risked more after the goal and first Renato Augusto was foiled by keeper Victor Valdez, who minutes later just got his fingertips to deflect a Gonzalo Castro shot onto the inside of the post.

As the game opened up, Messi cleverly got past Friedrich and Daniel Schwaab before chipping the ball against the outside of the post, while Leverkusen substitute Stefan Kiessling had an opportunity with a header which Valdez was able to smother.

Sanchez came close to a hat-trick with a header from a corner well saved by Leno before Barca found a way through with a third goal minutes later when Messi began and finished a move, converting a cross from Dani Alves from close range.

'It was a difficult game for us,' Sanchez said. 'It was not so easy especially after we conceded a goal, but we were able to come back quickly with a goal of our own.'

Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt said his side showed 'too much respect' in the first half.

'Our defensive order was good but we lacked courage,' he said. 'In the second half it looked completely different and we were able to take part in the game.'