4.23 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Champions League: Neymar double helps briliant Barcelona down PSG

Neymar Jr of Barcelona (right) celebrates his first goal with Luis Suarez of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Camp Nou stadium on April 21, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. (Getty Images)

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Neymar scored twice as Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in the last eight seasons by comfortably beating Paris St Germain 2-0 on Tuesday to complete an emphatic 5-1 aggregate victory.

The Nou Camp crowd were brought to their feet for Neymar's first goal as midfielder Andres Iniesta ran from his own half, skipping past three challenges, before delivering a perfect pass for the Brazilian, who rounded keeper Salvatore Sirigu and slid the ball home after 14 minutes.

PSG offered little resistance as Barca swept the ball around midfield and the Catalan side went further in front when Neymar headed home a curling cross from fullback Dani Alves after 34 minutes.

Barca eased off in the second half and were happy to hold on for a victory that keeps them on course to repeat their treble success of 2009.

"We did the same that we did in Paris, we came out and played our game and scored the goals we needed," Neymar said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster TVE.

"I think we are on good form, in the Champions League, in La Liga, everything and hopefully we can continue the same way."

PSG were without injured duo Thiago Motta and Thiago Silva but they did have former Barca striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti back from suspension.

Their Brazilian defender David Luiz, who had a torrid time against Luis Suarez in the first leg, was booked after just three minutes for a reckless challenge on Ivan Rakitic.
Related Coverage

Barca had no intention of sitting on their 3-1 advantage from the first leg and conjured up a magical first goal with Iniesta the architect and Neymar the executioner.

Iniesta, who was only given the all-clear from a pelvis injury on Monday, dictated play in midfield and with the quality of Barca’s forward line, the Catalans were able to take full advantage.

Ibrahimovic correctly had a goal ruled out for offside in a rare attack from the French side before Barca doubled their lead when Alves swung in a left-footed cross and an unmarked Neymar headed home.

Barca lost some of their dominance when Iniesta was replaced by veteran Xavi at halftime.

Yet apart from a strike from Verratti that went wide and a powerful effort from Ibrahimovic that was saved by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, PSG caused few problems for the Barca defence.

Neymar netted a brace as Barcelona sent Paris Saint Germain packing out of the Champions League competition to book themselves in the semi-finals after their 2-0 win at the Camp Nou on Tuesday night enabled Luis Enrique's side finish their quarter-finals against the French Club 5-1 on aggregate.

Barcelona had won the first-leg 3-1 in Paris and by half-time of the second leg the tie was sealed with Neymar scoring both goals.

Full-Time

Barcelona 2 (Neymar 14" 33") PSG 0

92" The long whistle is blown and Barca are in the semis.

90" PSG are done and dusted by Barcelona. Messi tries valiantly to get his name on the scorer's list but in vain.

82" PSG are playing a little better than they did the first half or is it because Barca have dropped their guard. Lucas comes up with two chances but shows poor finishing on both occasions.

78" There is chaos near the Barca goal as Cavani, Pastore and Matuidi scramble for the ball with Cavani finding the side netting.

74" Suarez who had a quiet match is replaced. The Uruguayan had done his bit in the first leg with two goals.

72" Ibrahimovic tests Ter Stegen in the Barca goal with his trademark bullet shot and the keeper reacts to it with alacrity. 

70" Good interception by Luiz just before Suarez could get to the ball in front of goal.

65" Barca are 25 minutes away from making the semis. It will take a miracle from PSG to overturn the verdict.

57" Verratti misses PSG's best chance, if you could call it that, by kicking wide off the target from close.

53" Sergi Roberto replaces Sergei Busquets.

51" Lionel Messi goes for the outrageous chip, it's a good effort too but Salvatore Sirigu watches it like a hawk. Barca are 5-1 up and Messi hasn't scored.

49" Cabaye's aimless long range shot is more out of frustration from PSG.

48" Xavi and Neymar run the PSG defence in circles. Ball is relayed for Rakitic who takes a hasty shot into Sirigu's gloves. 

46" Cavani crosses for Zlatan but Pique jumps up in time to nod it away. Matuidi makes a mess of the rebound.

45" Xavi replaces Iniesta on resumption.

Barcelona are almost assured of a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League having taken a 2-0 cushion at half-time for an aggregate 5-1 lead against PSG at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night.

Both goals were brilliantly scored by Neymar with Iniesta showing glimpses of his old magic to set up the first one and Dani Alves having a hand in the second to almost bury PSG's hopes of a fightback.

Half-time

Barcelona 2 (Neymar 14" 33") PSG 0

45" One minute added.

42" We are three minutes from half-time as Barca are cruising.

37" Gerard Pique heads it (corner) wide after a good challenge from Luiz.

Barcelona 2 (Neymar 14" 33") PSG 0

33" GOAL! Neymar catches the PSG defence, and his countrymate David Luiz in particular, napping by heading home a Dani Alves cross. Barca are on their way to the semis.

28" Iniesta is at his best and he seems to be gelling well with Neymar. Together they have the PSG defence in shambles.

23" Dani Alves tests Sirigu with a long range shot. The goalkeeper punches it but is unable to clear it out of harm's way. Neymar rushes forward and connects a header but Sirigu gets back in time to collect it.

22" Messi's half volley sails over.

19" PSG mount their first attack, and it's a nice one on the eye. Blaise Matuidi finds a deft backheel to play in Zlatan, and he finds the bottom corner with a sweeping shot into the far corner. The Swede was three yards offside though.

18" Jordi Alba puts his foot out in time to deny Matuidi from tapping a Pastore ball past Ter Stegen.

15" PSG, trailing 1-4 on aggregate, still need to score three. If they do and Barca don't score again, we would have extra-time.

Barcelona 1 (Neymar 14") PSG 0

14" GOAL! Brilliant work from Iniesta dribbling past a host of defenders and releasing it to Neymar who applies the finishing touches after beating Luiz and goalkeeper Sirigu. 

10" It's Barca who had the better share of the first 10 minutes. PSG look tentative as a goal against them could make their task even more impossible.

PSG will need to strike early to give themselves a chance of staying in the game.

5" Neymar goes unchallenged for a few metres but just when he is clear to have a shot at goal he is tackled in nick of time by Maxwell.

2" YELLOW! David Luiz's nightmare continues. The Brazilian is booked very early for a lunging tackle on Ivan Rakitic.

Barcelona make one change from the first leg as right-back Dani Alves returns from suspension.

PSG have Zlatan back up front and Marco Verratti returns in midfield. David Luiz - who will be hopefully keeping his legs shut - replaces the injured Thiago Silva.

TEAMS

Barca XI: Ter Stegen, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar.

PSG XI: Sirigu, Van der Wiel, Marquihos, David Luiz, Maxwell, Verratti, Cabaye, Matuidi, Pastore; Ibrahimovic, Cavani.

Paris Saint Germain's top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona at the Nou Camp tonight.

Ibrahimovic, 33, sat out the 3-1 defeat in Paris through suspension but is back - as is midfielder Marco Verratti.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is fit despite leaving the field on a stretcher during last week's first leg.

Luis Suarez, scorer of two superb goals in that game, will play alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.

PSG captain Thiago Silva will miss out through injury. He was replaced during the first leg by former Chelsea defender David Luiz.

STAT ATTACK

Barcelona

Remain two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Extended their run to 22 wins and a draw in their last 24 games in all competitions.

Are winners of the competition in 1992, 2006, 2009 and 2011.

Have won their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Messi is the leading scorer with 46 goals in all competitions.

PSG

Are top of Ligue 1 with seven matches left, one point clear of Lyon in second.

Best result in the competition is a semi-final spot in 1995.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads the goal-scoring charts for PSG with 28 goals.

PSG are on course for a treble having won the French League Cup and making the French Cup final.

PROBABLE FORMATIONS

Barcelona: 4-3-3

PSG: 4-3-3

Preview
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc admitted he is realistic about the size of the task facing his side as they attempt to overturn a 3-1 Champions League quarter-final, first leg deficit away at Barcelona on Tuesday.

The French champions were torn apart by Barca's star front three of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi at the Parc des Princes last week, just as they were when they last visited the Camp Nou in the group stages in December.

And while Blanc is confident PSG can pose the Barca defence problems, he believes stopping the South American trio is an almost impossible task.

"I'm fairly realistic. Yes we believe we can do it, but like you, we know that it is extremely difficult," he said on Monday.

"We can say that we have nothing to lose. I think we will have the opportunity to score, but the big problem is that we can't concede and against Barcelona that is almost impossible.

"We must defend well, we say that every time we play them, but we have conceded in every game because they have incredible offensive players.

"I hope we can show we are better than what we showed in the first leg."

The visitors will at least be boosted by the return of their own top scorer as former Barca striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns from suspension.

"He will have a big impact. He is a player I have never doubted," added Blanc.

"He loves these type of matches, so he will help us. It is always better to have very good players and goalscorers, as we saw in the first leg."

Marco Verratti also returns from a ban to take his place in midfield, but Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta both miss out due to injury.

And midfielder Javier Pastore is hoping Ibrahimovic and Verratti's presence can prove the difference from one week to the next.

"It will be a very difficult game, but the only good thing is that we don't have anything to lose. We come into the game with a negative result, but we have added two fundamental players to the team and they will give us a lot.

"We believe because that is our job and football is a game in which you have the possibility to win or lose. For our fans and ourselves we need to play very well and win the game."

However, the Argentine international dismissed French legend Eric Cantona's recent comments that he and not his compatriot Messi, who scored his 400th Barcelona goal at the weekend, is the best player in the world.

"Everyone has their opinion and I thank him publicly for what he said, but I don't believe the same.
"I think he likes good football and not just goals, but the stats of Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo are incredible, unattainable numbers."