Copa del Rey soccer: Lionel Messi scores twice in Barcelona win

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Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Lionel Messi scored two second-half goals in Barcelona's 5-0 win against Leganes, helping to lift his Spanish soccer squad into the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

Messi scored in the 59th minute and 89th minute of the lopsided affair Thursday at Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Antoine Griezmann drew first blood in the fourth minute of the round of 16 matchup. Messi played a through ball into the box for right back Nelson Semendo at the start of the play. The Barcelona defender then passed back to Griezmann, who brought the ball in before using his second touch to blast a shot through a defender's legs and into the left side of the net.

Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet doubled the lead in the 27th minute after Messi sent a corner kick in from the right side. The ball curved toward the near post, before Lenglet jumped and used his head to flick a shot into the far-post netting, beating Leganes keeper Ivan Cuellar for a second time.

Barcelona took the 2-0 lead into the half before Messi added some insurance in the 59th minute. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong played a long pass ahead for Messi during that exchange, leading the Barcelona star up the right flank. Messi weaved between several defenders before ripping a shot off Leganes defender Kevin Rodrigues and into the net.