Van Persie scores twice to lead Man United comeback

Messi sets up pair as Barcelona blanks Benfica

GENEVA— Lionel Messi was Barcelona’s goal maker and Robin Van Persie was Manchester United’s goal taker as the star forwards shone in Champions League victories Tuesday.

Messi created chances for Alexis Sanchez to score in the sixth minute and Cesc Fabregas in the 55th for a 2-0 win away to Benfica.

Barcelona’s comfortable night was tarnished late on as the four-time champion lost captain Carles Puyol who dislocated his left elbow after landing awkwardly.

Midfielder Sergio Busquets was then shown a straight red card for lunging into challenges too aggressively.

Van Persie scored with a fortunate finish in the 29th and a classy shot in the 49th, helping Man United come from behind to beat CFR Cluj 2-1 in Romania. “Wayne (Rooney) gave me the good pass, so I have to thank him,” Van Persie said of his teammate’s vision to create the winning goal. “Not many players can give a pass like that.” Defending champion Chelsea beat Nordsjaelland 4-0 in Denmark, and shares Group E leadership on with Shakhtar Donetsk which drew 1-1 away to Juventus. Bayern Munich, the beaten finalist last season, lost 3-1 to BATE Borisov in Belarus, Valencia beat Lille 2-0, and Braga won 2-0 at Galatasaray. In the early kickoff in Barcelona’s group, Celtic scored a 90th-minute goal to win 3-2 at Spartak Moscow which led in the second half before having defender Juan Manuel Insaurralde sent off. Messi has started the season in sparkling form in Spain, and the Argentina forward was a creative force at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. The Argentina forward hit a fierce low cross from the left that Sanchez poked in from close range, and was denied by a smart low save by Benfi- ca goalkeeper Artur in the 22nd.

Messi helped ensure victory when, after luring a group of defenders toward him, he laid off a pass to Fabregas in space to fire a left-foot shot into the net.

Puyol was carried off on a stretcher when he falling heavily on his left arm after leaping to meet a corner in the Benfica penalty area in the 75th.

Barcelona leads Group G with six points, two clear of Celtic which it plays next in Spain in three weeks’ time.