Rangers grit not enough as Barca's stars shine

It has taken a while for Theirry Henry to click alongside Ronaldinho and Leo Messi but it all came good just at the wrong time for Rangers, who battled manfully without ever really testing Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes.

Barcelona's front three combined to score after just seven minutes but the final touch appeared to come off Henry's arm. The Frenchman started the move, spraying a pass out to Ronaldinho down Rangers' righthand side.

The Brazilian crossed to Messi and he headed across Allan McGregor's goal. The effort looked to be creeping inside the keeper's far post but Henry made sure, bundling it over the line with a flailing elbow making contact with the ball in the process.

Referee Eric Braamhaar waved away protests from McGregor and so 1-0 down Rangers' plan to defend for 90 minutes was bankrupt after seven.

As Barcelona went for a second goal, Iniesta whistled a shot past McGregor's post after a pass from Messi and Ronaldinho almost opened up Rangers' back line but over elaborated with a lobbed pass that was headed clear.

But Rangers grew in confidence and although lone striker Daniel Cousin's back header was easy for Victor Valdes in the Barcelona goal, it inspired a period of more concerted pressure from the visitors, who were roared on by the best part of 10,000 fans inside the Nou Camp.

On 26 minutes Ronaldinho forced a brilliant save from McGregor with a shot from the edge of the box, although he also managed a fresh-air kick towards the end of the first half as he tried to test the keeper again.

The miss brought a loud, ironic cheer from Rangers' army of supporters.

Henry should have extended Barca's lead but the former Arsenal striker shot straight at McGregor, despite having time and space after being set up by Xavi.

But the Spaniards' lead was doubled on 43 minutes when McGregor again kept out a shot, this time from Ronaldinho, but was beaten by Messi who scored from the rebound.

Xavi blasted wide five minutes into the second half after a clever pull back from Carles Puyol as Barca continued to dominate, and Xavi turned creator on 57 minutes when he sent Messi clear only for McGregor to save the Argentine's shot.

The Spanish midfielder was outstanding throughout and he had the crowd on their feet as his 25-yard shot bulged the side-netting minutes later.

Messi should then have made it three but skewed his shot horribly wide after Henry had played him in.

Rangers threw on Nacho Novo but there was no way past Barcelona who kept possession as the clock ran down to ease their passage into the knockout stages and leave the Scots with a potentially crucial final Group E game against Lyon at Ibrox after they visit Stuttgart.