MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Barcelona took a commanding position in their Champions League second-round matchup with Manchester City, winning the first leg 2-0 tonight on goals by Lionel Messi and Dani Alves.
Messi converted a penalty kick in the 54th minute after he was fouled by fellow Argentine Martin Demichelis, his 25th goal in 27 games this season. Demichelis received a red card, but the four-time European champions couldn’t score again until Alves slotted home in the 90th.
City were playing their first knockout-phase match in Europe’s top club competition, but Barcelona were in near-complete control, displaying poise and panache.
In the night’s other game, Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0 at Bayer Leverkusen. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice between goals by Blaise Matuidi and Yohan Cabaye.
The second legs of the total-goals series are March 12.
