Barcelona kept up their 100 per cent record in this season's Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Stuttgart.
Spanish giants maintain 100 per cent record
Barcelona continued their 100 per cent record in this season's UEFA Champions League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Stuttgart.
Goals from Carles Puyol and Lionel Messi handed the Catalan giants the win to add to their earlier victory over Lyon.
It had been a frustrating first-half for Barca, who had Ronaldinho as their captain on his return to the side following injury, but Puyol and Messi struck in the space of 15 second half minutes to give their side the three points.
Barca began brightly with Deco going close with a rasping drive from 20 yards, but they were then rocked with less than five minutes gone when the injured Rafael Marquez was forced off.
Agonising
Puyol, who himself had begun the match on the bench as an injury precaution, came on in place of the Mexican.
Ronaldinho then curled a free-kick agonisingly close to Stuttgart goalkeeper Raphael Schafer's right hand post as Barca continued to dominate with their German hosts sinking deep to defend.
Stuttgart, though, weathered the storm and close to the half-hour mark Mario Gomez was only prevented from heading his side in front by a fine double save from Victor Valdes in the Barca goal.
The visitor's frustrations seemed to be growing as they struggled to break Stuttgart down and this was epitomised by a petty booking collected by Lionel Messi.
Fumbled
Alexander Farnerud then had his head in his hands on the stroke of half-time when he wasted the chance to put Stuttgart in the lead as he chipped a Gomez cross straight into the hands of Valdes with the goal gapping.
Barca's woes did not last long into the second half when Puyol put his side in front as he prodded home from close range after a Ronaldinho header had been fumbled by Schafer.
Messi then double Barca's advantage 14 minutes later when he played an excellent give an go with Thierry Henry to slot in via a deflection.
The 2006 champions then bullied their opponents as Messi had an effort cleared off the line by Serdar Tasci.
Barca comfortably saw out the win and ensured Stuttgart crash to their first home defeat in 20 matches.
| VfB Stuttgart |
Team Statistics |
Barcelona |
|
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
|
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
|
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
9 |
|
| 10 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
|
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
|
| 4 |
Corners |
8 |
|
| 11 |
Fouls |
8 |
|
| 3 |
Offsides |
3 |
|
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
|
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
| 83.6 |
Passing Success |
87.2 |
|
| 22 |
Tackles |
21 |
|
| 77.3 |
Tackles Success |
85.7 |
|
| 38.2 |
Possession |
61.8 |
|
| 52.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
47.1 |
|
|
