Puyol and Messi lead Barcelona to 2-0 win in Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Germany, Oct 2 (Reuters) Second-half goals from Carles Puyol and Lionel Messi gave Group E favourites Barcelona a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League today.

Stuttgart had finished the first half in full flight, twice forcing breathtaking saves from Victor Valdes, only for a soft goal just after the break to change the game.

Puyol, who had come on as an early substitute, poked the ball in from a few metres out in the 53rd minute after Raphael Schaefer had failed to hold a Ronaldinho header.

Messi made certain of victory 14 minutes later when he swept the ball in from Thierry Henry's cut-back.

It was a second victory in two games for Barcelona and a second defeat for the German champions.

Reuters SBA VP0340