Barca opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Messi got free down the left and squared the ball for Alexis Sanchez to tap home.
Some more brilliance from Messi in the 55th minute opened up the Benfica defence allowing Cesc Fabregas to smash home a left footed shot.
The evening turned sour for Barca though when captain Carles Puyol sustained a serious looking arm injury. They also had Sergio Busquets sent off in the 88th minute.
GIF report: Barca beat Benfica but Puyol suffers freak injury.
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