Barcelona inflicted a severe blow on Bayern Munich's Champions League hopes tonight, putting four goals away against the German team in the first leg of the quarter-final in front of over 93,000 spectators in the Nou Camp.

Bayern's initial tactic of pushing their whole defence up some thirty five metres from their own goal line, caused momentary panic amongst the Barça players, but they soon realised that a change of pace from the front three of Henry, Eto'o and Messi would demolish the Bayern defensive line.

And thus the goalfest began.  Lionel Messi, once again took command of a Barça attack that threatened to humiliate the opposition in the first half, opening the scoring in the ninth minute, thanks to an excellent pass frm Eto'o.

The Argentine then returned the favour, setting up Samuel Eto'o for Barça's second goal just four minutes later.

When Messi fell in the area and the referee ruled that he had dived, the indignant Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, protested to such a degree that he saw himself sent off the sidelines and into the stands for the remainder of the match.

Messi responded to his yellow card for the goal-mouth incident in the best possible way, throwing himself onto the end of a pass from Henry to score his second and Barça's third in the 38th minute of the match.

Henry, in no mind to miss out on his team's goal spree, put the ball squarely into the back of the Bayern net just before the end of the first half.

After the break, Bayern came out with renewed vigour and managed to stem the tide of goal against them, but were unable to get themselves onto the scoresheet and therefore go into the second leg of the quarter-final with a four goal deficit to make up.

In the other quarter-final first leg matches Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield, Villarreal drew 1-1 with Arsenal at home and Manchester United drew 2-2 against Porto at Old Trafford.  The second leg matches will be played on April 14th & 15th.