Sanchez brace hands Barcelona the advantage

Alexis Sanchez netted a brace as reigning champions FC Barcelona moved one step closer to the quarter-final stage following a 3-1 away victory over German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in their 2011-12 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg Tie on Tuesday night.

The Chilean international attacker opened the scoring in the 41^st minute, netting what was his first ever Champions League spot as the Spanish giants took that slender lead into the main break.

Bayer Leverkusen, who set up deep in an attempt to frustrate the Catalan’s tweaked their tactics at the main break and comeback with a more attacking approach which saw them equalise seven minutes into the second half.

Michal Kadlec sent the crowd at the BayArena into a delirium with the equaliser but the home fans were soon silenced by Sanchez as the former Udinese attacker netted his second just four minutes after the hosts leveled terms.

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi then secured all three points and all but ensured the Catalan’s side of progression into the next round with his side’s third in the 88^th minute.

“Overall we are very satisfied with the first leg, although the second half was a warning for us for the second leg,” Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola said at his after match media conference. “Germans have great self-confidence, but to score three times away from home is great.”

In the other Round of 16 first leg tie played on Tuesday night an Alexandre Lacazette deflected shot just before the hour mark handed French giants Lyon a much needed 1-0 home victory over the competition surprise packets in APOEL Nicosia.