Paris St-Germain 1-3 Barcelona
- Published
Barca on course for seventh semi in eight seasons
Luis Suarez has 13 goals in last 15 matches
PSG lose unbeaten home record this season
Zlatan Ibrahimovic back for second leg
Barcelona will take a two-goal lead to the Nou Camp courtesy of a confident first-leg win at Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last eight.
A cool finish from Neymar and two superb solo goals from Luis Suarez won the game for the Spanish side.
Lionel Messi also hit the post with a curling shot from the edge of the box.
PSG struggled in the absence of suspended striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic but have hope thanks to Jeremy Mathieu's own goal.
Before the French defender's unfortunate contribution - which saw him deflect a 20-yard Gregory van der Wiel drive past his own keeper - it had been a disastrous game for PSG, who also lost captain Thiago Silva to injury.
The 30-year-old Brazilian limped off soon after his compatriot Neymar had opened the scoring for the visitors on a night of misery for the French side, who have now lost their unbeaten home record this season and suffered a first European defeat at the Parc des Princes in 34 matches.
In addition, they also lost top spot in Ligue 1 as Lyon beat Bastia 2-0 on Wednesday to usurp them in the table.
Barca's win was not without cost as they also suffered an injury blow of their own in the second half when Andres Iniesta left on a stretcher holding his lower back, although after the game manager Luis Enrique revealed that the midfielder had not suffered serious damage.
This game is the third of what will be ultimately be a four-match Champions League contest between these two sides this season, following on from two closely contested Group F encounters that both went in favour of the home side.
PSG were also without Ibrahimovic when they recorded a 3-2 win over the Catalan club in late September but there was to be no repeat of that famous victory against a confident and composed Barca side, who are now 11 matches unbeaten in all competitions and chasing the treble.
PSG v Barca in stats |
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Neymar has scored in all three of Barcelona's Champions League appearances against Paris Saint-Germain this season. |
Lionel Messi has assisted 12 of Neymar's Barcelona goals, and all 12 have come this season. |
Barcelona have become the second team to score 400 Champions League goals (after Real Madrid, who now 436). |
Lionel Messi has completed 64 dribbles this season, the highest tally for a Champions League player since 2010/11 (when Messi himself completed 79). |
While the French champions were handicapped by the absence of their talismanic striker, who has scored 13 goals in his last seven games, and an underwhelming display from fellow forward Edinson Cavani, Barca were again indebted to their star attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez.
All three played a significant role, with Messi striking the post with the first shot of the game before setting up Neymar with a neat pass that allowed the Brazilian to slot the opener under Salvatore Sirigu.
Suarez then took over in the second half, scoring his first goal courtesy of a wonderfully neat finish at the end of a mazy run that saw him nutmeg David Luiz and then squeeze past two more challenges.
Luiz - who was a substitute for the injured Silva - fell foul of Suarez again for the Uruguayan's second goal, suffering a second nutmeg as the striker took himself clear on goal before curling a magnificent finish into the top corner.
PSG gave themselves the slimmest of chances courtesy of their countryman's own goal, but it will take a miracle in the Nou Camp if they to deny the four-time winners a spot in the last four.
- Published16 April 2015
- Published15 April 2015
- Published15 April 2015
- Published15 April 2015