Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has claimed that his team had to 'bide time' in a bid to overcome Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Spanish champions struggled to break down the Gunners in the first period of their last-16 tie, but a second-half double from Lionel Messi has given them a two-goal advantage ahead of the second leg next month.

"In the first half they defended with all their players behind the ball, but we were able to tire them out so that chances came," Enrique told reporters.

"Everyone who knows football knows you need first half like this, so in second half you can do that. They were tired out. We could open spaces and make chances. We also did very well stopping them from countering on us."

Barcelona are now 33 games unbeaten in all competitions, which is a run that stretches back to the start of October.