A Sanchez effort was blocked by Artur and then on the point of halftime a Pedro Rodriguez cross was just too long for Messi.
Benfica then brought the more attack-minded Carlos Martins into midfield, but Barca started to dominate in the second half and got their second goal through an in-form Fabregas. He latched onto a Messi pass and finished clinically on his left foot past Artur.
Benfica went close with headers from Jardel Vieira and Nemanja Matic, but Barca were in control and the only stains on their evening were the injury for Puyol and Busquets’ harsh expulsion late on when he seemed to make little contact with Pereira when they jumped for a ball.
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