Messi shines as Barça beat Liverpool

Lionel Messi put Barcelona in a commanding position in the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool by scoring twice in a 3-0 win at the Nou Camp.

After Luis Suarez had given the hosts a first-half lead against his former club, Messi pounced first to tap in his first of the night in 75th minute after Suarez had seen an effort come back off the bar.

Seven minutes later the Argentine forward scored a spectacular free-kick from 30 yards out, arrowing the ball past Reds 'keeper Alisson and into the very top corner of the net.

The result was somewhat harsh on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, who controlled large parts of the game, having more possession and more chances, but failed to make it count as Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and James Milner all failed to convert gilt-edged opportunities.

The Reds will now need to produce a miraculous comeback at Anfield in the return leg on May 7 if they're to progress to the final in Madrid.