Man. City defender Martin Demichelis trips Lionel Messi at the Etihad Stadium.

Barcelona took control of their Champions League round of 16 tie against 10-man Manchester City last night when they won 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty and a late strike from Dani Alves.

Messi, tripped by Martin Demichelis on the edge of the box, which earned the defender a red card, scored after 54 minutes to give the four-time European champions the lead over City, who were playing in the knockout rounds for the first time.

Alves scored in stoppage time when he shot through the legs of City goalkeeper Joe Hart after a marauding run down the right.

The visitors dominated the opening 20 minutes and finished far stronger against City, who seemed overawed by the occasion.

The two sides, who had scored 228 goals between them this season, failed to produce the goalfest that many expected.

The two away goals Barcelona did score have given them a huge advantage going into the second leg on March 12.

In the other match yesterday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored with a stunning strike from outside the penalty area in the highlight of Paris St Germain’s imposing 4-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen.

The volatile Sweden striker, who took his tally in this season’s competition to 10, also converted a penalty after Blaise Matuidi had given the French side an early lead.

Yohan Cabaye added the fourth two minutes from time and Leverkusen, beaten 5-0 at home by Manchester United in the group stage, had no answer to PSG’s slick passing as they slumped to another heavy defeat.

The Bundesliga sides’s misery was increased when defender Emir Spahic was sent off in the 59th minute for a second yellow card.

Leverkusen, second in the Bundesliga, made a disastrous start when captain Simon Rolfes lost possession to Matuidi in his own half and the ball was in the back of the net within seconds.

Matuidi fed Ibrahimovic, who found Marco Verratti and the Italian laid the ball back for the Frenchman to side-foot past Bernd Leno in the third minute.

The visitors extended their lead in the 39th minute when Spahic was penalised for an off-the-ball tackle on Ezequiel Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic fired the penalty into the bottom left corner.

Ibrahimovic produced his masterpiece three minutes later, striking a rising, first-time shot into the far top corner after Matuidi managed to roll the ball back to him despite falling backwards.

Bayer were spared further blushes in the 67th minute when substitute Philipp Wollschied turned a Matuidi shot into his own goal but the effort was disallowed for offside against Lavezzi, although the Argentine did not appear to be interfering with play.

Midfielder Cabaye struck two minutes from time to complete the rout, firing home past the helpless Leno after a cross by winger Maxwell.

Round of 16 (first legs)

Played yesterday
Bayer Leverkusen vs Paris St Germain - 0-4
Manchester City vs Barcelona - 0-2

Today
Milan vs Atletico Madrid - 20.45
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich - 20.45

February 25
Zenit St Petersburg vs Borussia Dortmund - 18.00
Olympiakos vs Manchester United - 20.45

February 26
Galatasaray vs Chelsea - 20.45
Schalke vs Real Madrid - 20.45

Second legs: March 11/12 and March 18-19.