Messi double as Barcelona outclass Bayern

Champions League favorites Barcelona produced another devastating display to outclass Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Nou Camp and virtually guarantee a place in the semifinals of the competition. In the last round, the Catalan giants scored four first-half goals on their way to crushing French champions Lyon, and they repeated the trick on Wednesday as Lionel Messi (2), Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o again proved they are the most deadly strike-force in world football. German champions Bayern were thrashed 5-1 by Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday and they looked to be heading for another mauling as early as the fifth minute when Henry rounded goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt — but his weak shot was cleared off the line.

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Ferdinand boost for United quintuple bid

Manchester United received a major boost in their quest for an unprecedented quintuple as injury doubts over central defender Rio Ferdinand lifted ahead of their Champions League last 16 return tie against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Ferdinand turned his ankle in the 4-0 thrashing of Fulham which put United into the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday and was rated a major doubt for the the second leg with the two teams tied 0-0 after their San Siro clash a fortnight ago. “Rio is a bit of a concern,” manager Alex Ferguson had told United’s television channel MUTV

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