With Barcelona looking set for a stunning defeat, Messi came on for Thierry Henry in the second half and equalized in the 87th when goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov failed to block Bojan Krkic's cross from the left. He added a second in the fourth minute of injury time after Xavi Torres put him one-on-one with Pyatov.

Ilsinho had given Shakhtar the lead just before the interval.

It was the second straight game that Messi rescued Barcelona in the final minutes. He also gave the Catalan team its third straight Spanish league victory on Saturday by converting an injury-time penalty for a 2-1 win at local rival Espanyol.

"It was a tough and complicated game," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. "They (Donetsk) attacked good and had a good result."

Shakhtar is slogging through one of its worst-ever starts in the Ukrainian league, with nine points in as many games.

Barcelona pressed from the beginning and dominated possession throughout the first half, though rarely threatening the home side.

Samuel Eto'o put Tierry Henry through in the seventh minute for the team's first real opportunity, but Pyatov blocked the shot from inside the box.

Shakhtar first came close in the 24th, when Fernandinho fired over the crossbar from inside the box. Brandao then moved down the left flank in the 37th and crossed to Ilsinho, but the Brazilian's shot was deflected over the crossbar by Viktor Valdes' outstretched left leg.

Donetsk pressed before the interval and Ilsinho broke through two defenders to score over Valdes in the 45th.

Barcelona dominated in the second half while Shakhtar replied with rare counterattacks.

"We had a good game and created 15 chances," Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu said.

In the other Group C game, Sporting won at FC Basel 2-0.

Barcelona leads the group with six points, followed by sporting with four. Shakhtar has three and FC Basel is winless.

Shakhtar hosts Sporting next and Barcelona will be at FC Basel on Oct. 22.