FC Barcelona must have believed they had done enough to take the tie when Xavi buried a penalty in the final minutes in Paris last week. However a nasty deflected goal in the dying seconds ensured that this quarter-final was far from over. Injuries to both Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano left attack and defence with giant holes to fill and the odds began to stock up against Barça reaching their sixth consecutive semi-final. Barcelona were back to their best at the weekend drilling five goals past a hapless Mallorca, however Carlo Ancelloti's troops promised not to be such a pushover.
Former Camp Nou favourites Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Thiago Motta and Maxwell took to the pitch eager to prove to the home fans that they were sold on prematurely. The Barcelona backline was plugged by Adriano returning after a thigh injury, while Fàbregas took Messi's false nine role upfront beside Pedro and David Villa. The line up was experimental at best with the visitors surely rejoicing at Messi's absence from the team sheet. The little Argentine looked on from the bench like a lifeguard, ready to risk his own health if he saw that the side needed rescuing.
In the first minute Fàbregas was fouled on the left side of the box. Xavi's free kick beat the keeper but crashed into the side netting. A horrible mistake by Busquets who failed to control a pass saw Lavezzi through on goal moments later. He seemed destined to score but he was robbed by the toe of Piqué. A minute later a slip by Thiago Silva while taking a free kick saw the ball only bobble a few yards. He kicked the ball for a second time, illegally but necessarily, to give away a dangerous free-kick. The resulting free kick saw the wall do its job.
PSG hit a purple patch and applied the pressure on the Barcelona goal. Valdés was kept very busy, keeping the sides level with several top draw saves. The makeshift backline was being severely tested and hanging on by a thread. Lavezzi was denied by Valdés and the rebound cleared by Piqué. It seemed only a matter of time before the leaky defense let in a goal. A good Ibrahimovic cross found Lucas whose header was denied by an acrobatic save from the Barça number one once more. The teams ran for the tunnel at the break with the French side looking far more dangerous.
Pastore broke the deadlock to give the visitors the lead. A slick ball through by Ibrahimovic found the run of the Argentine who clipped the ball past Valdés. Barcelona were in trouble and called on their superhero to save them. Messi came on for Fàbregas, and youngster Bartra was thrown into the fray in the stead of Adriano who was clearly struggling both with an injury and his centre back responsibilities.
Messi's impact was immediate. He dribbled at the edge of the box and slid a ball to Villa. Villa did fantastically well in near zero space, laid the ball back to Pedro under pressure in a crowded box and the Canarian swung his left foot through the ball. The net bulged and the Nou Camp rejoiced. Cometh the hour cometh the man and Messi's arrival changed the complexion of the game by creating the goal. Song was introduced to shore up the defensive end in place of David Villa and the home side hung onto their lead for a very long last quarter of an hour.
The one all draw was enough to see Barcelona through to the semifinals however this was not a convincing performance and may give confidence to whomever is waiting in the long grass in two weeks time. Hopefully the two week break will give the side a chance to heal and regroup for the next round. To advance with such a diminished defense is an achievement in itself. Let's hope the quality in the midfield and upfront can continue to disguise the growing problems at the back. Messi was called on for a miracle tonight. By coming back from a hamstring injury in one week to create the winning goal was a stretch – even by his standards. But yet again he delivered. He was clearly suffering in terms of mobility so its time to wrap him in cotton wool until the semis.
Via: [Live Football] CD Trofense - FC Porto B - Portuguese second League
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