Rangers suffer Barca defeat

Rangers' dreams of a Nou Camp glory night were shattered as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 in the Champions League by dominant Barcelona.

Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi scored the goals as Frank Rijkaard's Barca side took a giant step towards the knockout stages - and leaving Rangers' chances of joining them in the balance.

The result leaves Rangers still second in Group E on seven points, but third-placed Lyon are now just a point behind following their 4-2 win over Stuttgart.

Rijkaard sent his men out with the aim of scoring early in the belief it would force Rangers to open up a bit more, and an early goal is exactly what the home side got.

There were just five minutes on the clock when Henry slid in to notch his 44th Champions League goal after Messi had headed Ronaldinho's deep ball to the far post back across Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Andres Iniesta sent a curling effort just wide before Ronaldinho fired in a stinging shot that McGregor did well to tip over at full stretch.

McGregor then kept out an effort from Henry, but the 25-year-old Scot could do little to prevent Barca going 2-0 ahead just before the break.

Ronaldinho and Messi played a clever one-two on the edge of the box and although the Brazilian's effort was saved by McGregor, Messi was on hand to turn home the loose ball.

Rangers had a rare chance to test home goalkeeper Victor Valdes in the 81st minute when Jean Claude Darcheville won a free-kick 25 yards out.

The Frenchman took the shot himself, but although his was a well-struck effort, it went straight into Valdes' midriff.