Beautiful, entertaining match at PSG's Parc-des-Princes stadium, on Tuesday evening!
Even though PSG dominated the start, with Lavezzi hitting the woodwork within the first ten minutes, Barcelona lived up to its billing as perhaps the best team in the world, and hit close to half-time. In the 38th minute, Alves' super-intelligent lob put Messi in a goal-scoring position from which he could not miss.
At that point, and for most of the second half, it looked like Barcelona learned their lesson from the first-leg encounter against Milan, a few weeks ago, and that they would not be broken down.
But they were to concede, eventually.
It took a very lucky, offside goal by Ibrahimovic to tie things up at one-all, in the 79th minute.
While PSG fans were hoping for the full comeback, goalkeeper Sirigu made a gaffe that almost cost his team the defeat. His penalty-box foul on Sanchez, and the Xavi conversion (89), put Barcelona ahead one more time.
The match had 4 minutes of injury time, though, and Ibrahimovic had one more great play in him. Even though they desperately needed a goal, and he was his team's best attacking man, the Swede saw the possibility in heading the ball back, which he did, to Blaise Matuidi. The Frenchman, in an excellent position to shoot, blasted the ball at full speed towards goal. But, even so, it probably wouldn't have beaten Victor Valdes. It did, though, because the shot was deflected, by Dani Alves, and the ball just trickled in after the Spanish goalie failed to control it.
So, now, although it would be quite optimistic to say that PSG can go to Nou Camp and win, the French team certainly won't see that as an impossibility.
They can score on Barca, clearly, and they're probably better on the road, on most occasions.
Also, one more important thing about the match in eight days' time is what will happen to Lionel Messi, who had to leave the playing team at the half, due to a hamstring issue. And that kind of injury generally leads to prolonged absence.
Highlights:
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