The clash at Camp Nou marked the first time since his departure from Barca in 2012 that Pep Guardiola had met the team he led to 14 major trophies in four years.
Guardiola had branded Messi "unstoppable" in the build-up to the game and his words proved prophetic as Messi dismantled Bayern with two spectacular late goals.
Having seen Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer frustrate Barca for much of the encounter, the two sides looked set to head back to the Allianz Arena next week with the tie finely poised at 0-0.
But Messi, playing in his 100th European game, produced another sparkling display to put Barca in command, breaking the deadlock with a rasping 77th-minute opener.
And the Argentina forward doubled his tally three minutes later with a superb solo goal before an injury-time third from Neymar effectively ended the tie as Barca went some way to gaining a measure of revenge for the 7-0 aggregate loss to Bayern at the same stage two years ago.
Match Stats — Team Stats
Barcelona FC Bayern München
Attack
- Goals
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 3 100%0% 0 - Total Shots (including blocked shots)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 15 65.2%34.8% 8 - Shots On Target
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 8 100%0% 0 - Blocked Shots
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 2 50%50% 2 - Shots from outside the box
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 6 54.5%45.5% 5 - Shots from inside the box
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 9 75%25% 3 - Shot Accuracy (excluding blocked shots)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 61.5% 100%0% 0%
General Play
- Possession (%)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 45.5% 45.5%54.5% 54.5% - Duels won (%)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 59.4% 59.4%40.6% 40.6% - Aerial Duels Won (%)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 68.2% 68.2%31.8% 31.8% - Interceptions
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 15 45.5%54.5% 18 - Offsides
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 3 60%40% 2 - Corners
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 2 40%60% 3
Distribution
- Total Passes
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 462 45.2%54.8% 559 - % of Passes Long
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 12.3% 59.4%40.6% 8.4% - Passing Accuracy (%)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 81% 49.1%50.9% 84.1% - Passing Accuracy opp. Half (%)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 74.7% 74.71698113207546%76.34408602150538% 76.3% - Total Crosses
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 13 54.2%45.8% 11 - Successful Crosses (%)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 30.8% 62.9%37.1% 18.2%
Defence & Discipline
- Tackles
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 20 42.6%57.4% 27 - Tackles Won (%)
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 70% 49.9%50.1% 70.4% - Clearances
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 15 37.5%62.5% 25 - Fouls Conceded
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 15 51.7%48.3% 14 - Yellow Cards
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 3 50%50% 3 - Red Cards
Barcelona Comparison FC Bayern München 0 50%50% 0
As promised, Guardiola played an attacking side, although that mindset almost cost Bayern in the opening stages.
Barca exploited the extra space afforded to them by Bayern's back three, with Luis Suarez brilliantly denied by a one-on-one save from Neuer in the seventh minute.
Suarez was involved again as Neymar's shot from his pull-back was deflected wide of the post by Philipp Lahm.
For all the hosts' early pressure Bayern would have taken the lead had Robert Lewandowski displayed more composure in front of goal.
Thomas Muller played a low ball into the box from the right flank, but Lewandowski – wearing a protective mask due to facial injuries suffered in last week's DFB-Pokal semi-final with Borussia Dortmund - failed to get a proper connection and shot well wide.
Despite Guardiola switching to a back four, Barca continued to create chances, Suarez heading over from a corner before Dani Alves drew another fine close-range save from Neuer following a superb lofted pass from Andres Iniesta.
The second half saw Bayern tighten things up at the back, but their defence was finally breached as Messi collected a lay-off from Alves and unleashed a low left-footed drive that flew into the bottom-right corner.
But Messi was far from finished and stretched Barca's lead with a goal befitting a game of such magnitude.
After collecting the ball from Ivan Rakitic, Messi teased Jerome Boateng before expertly flicking the ball from his left to his right boot and lofting a magnificent chipped finish over Neuer and into the bottom-left corner.
There was still time for Neymar to all but ensure Barca's place in the Berlin showpiece next month as he slipped free of the Bayern defence and coolly slotted the ball underneath Neuer in stoppage time.
Source: Goal.com
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