Barca beat Rangers to edge closer

BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona edged closer to the last 16 of the Champions League after a comfortable 2-0 Group E victory over Rangers at the Nou Camp -- the Scottish side's first defeat in the competition.

Barca's goals came at either end of the first half, with Thierry Henry opening the scoring early on and Lionel Messi then doubling the lead in the 43rd minute.

The home side had a host of chances to increase their advantage, but a mixture of poor finishing and superb goalkeeping by Allan McGregor kept the scoreline down.

Rangers were unbeaten in all seven of their European matches heading into this contest, but that record came to a disappointing end.

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 McGregor.

Barca went 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.

Barca continued to make all the running after the break, and Xavi saw two shots go just wide while Messi and Henry were both denied by McGregor.

The Catalan giants top the table with 10 points while the result leaves Rangers still second on seven points. However, third-placed Lyon are now just a point behind following a thrilling 4-2 win over Stuttgart -- who have now lost all four of their matches and cannot qualify.

Hatem Ben Arfa opened the scoring in the sixth minute for Lyon with a left-foot shot inside the far post that took a deflection off Andreas Beck.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Swedish international Kim Kallstrom superbly volleyed home a Sidney Govou cross.

However, within a minute, Stuttgart had pulled a goal back. Thomas Hitzlsperger's long-range drive was spilled by goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre, allowing Mario Gomez to turn in the rebound.

But Lyon were in no mood to be denied -- and in the 37th minute they restored their two-goal advantage when Ben Arfa produced some superb skill on the right before unleashing a right-footed shot high into the top corner.

Stuttgart game out fighting after the interval and were rewarded with a second goal on 56 minutes. Fernando Meira threaded the ball to Beck, whose low cross was turned in by Gomez for his second goal.

Suddenly the French champions appeared edgy and Gomez broke clear again moments later, only to be clipped by Fabio Santos as he shaped to shoot.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot but Hitzlsperger's powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Vercoutre.

The French keeper denied Hitzlsperger again moments later as Stuttgart pressed forward, but Lyon finished the stronger and Juninho rounded off victory with a simple tap-in. E-mail to a friend