Barça are as good as through to the last 16 of the Champions League after easily beating an unambitious Rangers 2-0 at Camp Nou tonight. Only a highly unlikely combination of results, including a Lyon victory over Barça by at least three goals, could prevent Barça getting through.

Barça got the early goal they had talked about after just six minutes. Henry passed to Ronaldinho who sent in a long cross from the left towards Leo Messi, the Argentinian headed the ball back across the goal and Thierry Henry slid in to try to stab the ball home, Henry didn’t quite make contact but the ball hit the post and bounced back towards the Frenchman who was still sliding, the ball hit his forearm and ended up in the back of the net. Barça were fortunate that the Dutch referee missed the handball, but perhaps it made up for the handball from a Rangers defender in the first game at Ibrox.

Rangers did not change their gameplan with the goal and continued to play it very tight at the back, they had one attempt on goal after 15 minutes when Beasley headed weakly wide, but the rest of the first half was all Barça’s. Ronaldinho who was looking more like his old self had a good effort after 27 minutes, he turned inside and shot from 20 yards but McGregor did well to palm the ball over. Ten minutes later McGregor saved well again this time from Xavi who had been put through by Ronaldinho. It seemed only a matter of time before another goal came. Three minutes before half time Henry gave the ball to Ronaldinho who played a rapid one-two with Messi, Ronaldinho’s toe-poke shot was saved by McGregor but Messi reacted quickly to stick the rebound home to make it 2-0 at half time.

If the first half saw the goals the second half saw the football, as Rangers tired Barça played some excellent possession football. Ronaldinho moved into the middle and made some great combinations with Messi, they were supported by the inexhaustible Carles Puyol, playing again at right back, and the superb Xavi who had probably his best game of the season so far. All that was missing was a third goal, Xavi went close twice and on another occassion sent a fine pass to Messi whose shot was saved by McGregor with his foot. Bojan Krkic, on for the last fifteen minutes in place of Ronaldinho, almost got a goal near the end with a shot from the wing that slipped through McGregor’s hands and almost crossed the line before the keeper recovered.

Rangers didn’t test Valdés until the last ten minutes. First through a shot from Darcheville in the 83rd minute, and then deep into injury time a volley from Nacho Novo which Valdés did well to keep out.

This was another good home performance from Barça, they have now won eight out of eight at Camp Nou in La Liga and the Champions League. Ronaldinho’s form was very encouraging and he is smiling like he did in the good days. Puyol continues to show he can be a great right back as well as a great central defender, and Toure also deserves a mention for another dominating performance in midfield which helped the defence to another easy game and another clean sheet.

Barça now lead Group E with 10 points, Rangers are still second on 7, Lyon who beat Stuttgart 4-2 this evening are now on 6 points, and Stuttgart have yet to win any points.

Tonight’s teams:

Barça: Valdés 6.5; Puyol 7.5 (Oleguer m85, –), Thuram 6.5, Milito 6.5, Abidal 7; Xavi 7.5, Toure 7, Iniesta 6.5 (Gudjohnsen m70, 6); Messi 8, Henry 6.5, Ronaldinho 8 (Bojan m76, 6.5).

Rangers: McGregor; Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Papac; Beasley (Novo m69), Ferguson, Hemdani, Adam (Darcheville m62), McCulloch; Cousin (Naismith m77). 

Goals: m6 Henry 1-0, m43 Messi 2-0.

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