By DPA
Hamburg : Lionel Messi scored a brace as Barcelona twice came from behind Wednesday to eventually overcome Celtic in a thrilling round of 16 first-leg encounter in European football’s Champions League.
In other action, holders AC Milan played out a scoreless draw with Arsenal while a late goal from Carlos Tevez salvaged a 1-1 draw for Manchester United away to Olympique Lyon and Fenerbahce overcame Sevilla 3-2 in Turkey.
The other five-goal thriller of the night was in Glasgow where Barcelona eventually defeated Celtic 3-2. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink set the tone as he put Celtic ahead as early as the 16th minute, heading home Lee Naylor’s cross at the near post.
But the lead lasted just two minutes as Messi equalised for Barcelona after playing a superb one-two with Deco before calmly lifting the ball over the advancing Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal.
The home side found themselves back in front seven minutes before the break, however, as a cross from Ireland international Aiden McGeady was met by Barry Robson, whose looping header sailed over the head of Victor Valdes and into the Barca net.
The Catalans had to wait until the 51st minute to draw level when Ronaldinho found Thierry Henry, who curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner to make it 2-2 and Messi completed the deserved comeback when he scored the winner 11 minutes from time.
Sevilla will need to win the return leg in Spain if they are to progress to the quarterfinal stages after going down to Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
The Spanish side should have been ahead after just four minutes but Frederic Kanoute’s firmly struck shot was well saved by Volkan Demirel.
Fenerbahce went in front on 17 minutes when a totally unmarked Mateja Kezman headed home from six metres but Sevilla found themselves level six minutes later when Edu inadvertently turned a Daniel Alves cross into his own goal.
Kanoute nearly put Sevilla in front with a long-range shot before a textbook header from Diego Lugano on 57 minutes made it 2-1 to Fenerbahce.
However, Julien Escude equalised for Sevilla to make it 2-2 and silence the home crowd but Semih Senturk’s late deflected winner means Fenerbahce harbour real hopes of making it to the next round.
English champions Manchester United have a manageable task in their return leg at Old Trafford after drawing away to French side Lyon.
Wayne Rooney had the best chance of the first half for United when the England striker was put clean through by Ryan Giggs but Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet saved superbly with his legs.
Karim Benzema showed why he is so highly rated when the French striker slammed home from the edge of the area after 54 minutes but Tevez swung the tie back in United’s favour with a scrappy late equaliser.
In the night’s other match, Arsenal drew 0-0 with holders AC Milan.
Arsenal came close to scoring after 49 minutes when Milan defender Massimo Oddo steered a header just wide of his own right hand post while Emmanuel Adebayor headed against the bar with virtually the last action of the game.
The return legs are on March 4.