Barca, Bordeaux reach Champions League quarters

Barcelona and Bordeaux reach the Champions League soccer quarterfinals after beating Stuttgart and Olympiacos respectively.

The defending Spanish champions Barcelona took the lead when Lionel Messi scored with a rising shot that beat goalkeeper Jens Lehmann just 13 minutes into the match at the Camp Nou late Wednesday, March 17.

Pedro Rodriguez doubled the advantage from Yaya Toure's centering pass in the 22nd minute of the game.

The Argentine soccer star Messi managed to find the net again with a low shot on the hour mark and the substitute Bojan Krkic made it 4-0 in the 89th minute.

"To reach the quarterfinals is very important. We were very, very intense in all facets, very aggressive. We played a great game," said Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola also praised the 22-year-old Messi for his great performance during the match.

"He was so decisive. Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody," he added.

Messi was also praised by Stuttgart boss Christian Gross through a translator.

"Messi's ability is incredible when you consider his age. I think it's fair to compare him to Diego Maradona."

“No discussion - Barcelona deserved to go on,” he added . “We started the game well but we couldn't stop Messi in the decisive moments.”

"Barcelona are strong individually and collectively and I think the elimination of Real Madrid gave them some extra motivation," he further explained.

Meanwhile, French champions Bordeaux cruised into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Olympiakos, beating the Greek side 3-1 on aggregate.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121095§ionid=3510211.