Two goals from Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi gave Barcelona an easy 2-0 home victory over Rangers as the Catalans edged closer to securing their place in the UEFA Champions League knock-out phase. Barcelona needed six minutes to break Rangers' resistance, thanks to Henry's controversial finish. Ronaldinho's cross at the far post was nodded by Messi across the six-yard box and the French striker apparently handled the ball into the net. Argentinean sensation Messi continued his sparkling form after doubling the lead two minutes before the break. Ronaldinho exchanged passes with Messi to go clear on goal and try his luck. The Brazilian's effort was parried by Rangers keeper Allan McGregor into the path of Messi, who made no mistake from close range. Barcelona are in charge of Group E with 10 points, three ahead of second-placed Rangers. French champions Lyon lie third on six points after defeating Stuttgart 4-2 at Stade Gerland as the Bundesliga champions have been eliminated from Europe's elite competition.
Lyon defeat Stuttgart to remain in contention Hatem Ben Arfa broke the deadlock as early as the sixth minute when his shot from inside the area deflected off Andreas Beck and went into the back of the net. Kallstrom made it 2-0 on the quarter hour mark when he controlled Sidney Govou's cross on the edge of the area, tricked a challenger with a superb flick before firing into the bottom corner of the net. Mario Gomez pulled one back one minute later when he notched home on the rebound after Lyon keeper Remy Vercoutre poorly palmed Thomas Hitzlsperger's shot. Frenchman Ben Arfa was on target again in the 37th minute after bamboozling Ludovic Magnin inside the area with a superb move before clipping into the far top corner. The unmarked Gomez once again narrowed the gap in the 56th minute with an easy tap-in after connecting with Andreas Beck's low cross. Stuttgart missed a glorious opportunity to equalize when they were awarded a penalty on the stroke of the hour mark but Hitzlsperger's effort was denied by the diving Vercoutre. Brazilian playmaker Juninho ensured Lyon's victory three minutes into stoppage time with an easy tap-in into an empty net.
