Lionel Messi returned from injury and scored a goal, helping Barcelona beat Mexican club Atlante 3-1 and earn a spot in the Club World Cup final.
Messi showed no effects from an ankle injury as he received a pass from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 54th minute and then rounded goalkeeper Federico Vilar to give Barcelona the lead.
Pedro Rodriguez sealed the victory in the 67th, becoming the first player to score in six different competitions in one year.
Atlante took advantage of the European champions sluggish start to take the lead in the fifth through Guillermo Rojas. But Sergio Busquets equalised in the 35th.
Barcelona will now face South American champion Estudiantes of Argentina in Saturday’s final as it goes for an unprecedented sixth trophy in a calendar year.
“We want to win everything,” Pedro said. “Hopefully we’ll do it in the final.”
Barcelona has already won the Champions League, Spanish league, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup and European Supercup trophies in 2009. Pedro, who has been a regular in Pep Guardiola’s squad since August, has scored in each of those competitions.
Messi, coming back from an ankle injury, revitalised Barcelona after coming on in the 53rd minute.
Atlante had taken the lead after just five minutes when Rojas took advantage of a defensive lapse to flick the ball over goalkeeper Victor Valdes and then score from an acute angle.
Ibrahimovic went close several times from distance before Busquets equalised in the 35th, the midfielder volleying Yaya Toure’s flicked header under Vilar.
Fans chanted Messi’s name when the Argentina forward appeared on the touchline to replace Toure and he immediately delivered for the 40,952 fans at Zayed Sports City stadium after a week out.
“He played really well,” said Pedro, who wrapped up the win after Andres Iniesta drew two defenders and then passed to the unmarked winger, who then fired a shot past Vilar from inside the area.
Atlante missed several chances to get back into the game, including in the 73rd when Gabriel Pereyra miss-hit a clear chance in front of goal.
“It was a very tough game,” Vilar said.
Atlante will play Asian champion Pohang Steelers in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
