Barcelona, Mar 18 (EFE).- Barcelona, led by a masterful Lionel Messi, claimed a berth in the Champions League quarterfinals with a 1-0 win here Wednesday over Manchester City, who would have suffered an embarrassing rout but for the heroics of goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Having beaten City 2-1 in the first leg at Manchester, Barça needed only to hold the visitors scoreless to advance to the quarterfinals for a record eighth consecutive season.

Even so, there was no question of the talent-laden Spanish club abandoning its customary fluid game to go into a defensive shell.

The more than 92,000 people packed into Camp Nou were chanting Messi’s name barely 30 minutes into the contest, as the Argentine international regarded by many as the world’s best put on a clinic.

City proved incapable of stopping Messi or fellow striker Neymar without resorting to fouls, an approach that already cost the English squad dearly in the first leg.

The Argentine’s deft pass to an unguarded Ivan Rakitic in the 31st minute set up the Croatian international’s first Champions League goal.

Messi continued to dazzle in the second half and Barça continued to threaten, forcing Hart to make another half-dozen saves to keep his squad’s faltering hopes alive.

Despite Barcelona’s clear superiority, the outcome remained uncertain as City came close on a couple of chances.

With 13 minutes left in regulation, the referee awarded the visitors a penalty for a hit on Sergio Agüero by Barça defender Gerard Pique. But keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen guessed correctly and stopped City’s top striker.

Barcelona joins two other Spanish clubs, archrival Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, in the Champions League last eight, which is left without a single English side for the second time in three years.

Real Madrid defeated Atletico in the 2013-2014 final to hoist the trophy for a record 10th time. EFE