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Champions League | Round-Of-16
Mar 16, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
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3-1

Neymar (18'), Suarez (65'), Messi (88')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Elneny (51')

Barcelona through to Champions League last eight

:Headline: Result: Barcelona through to Champions League last eight: ID:268695: from db_amp
Barcelona book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 3-1 win over Arsenal in their last-16 second leg in Spain.

Barcelona have booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Arsenal at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

The Spanish giants entered the second leg of the last-16 tie as the firm favourites to progress following a 2-0 win in London last month and the reigning champions finished the job in front of their own supporters.

Attacking trident Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were all on the scoresheet for Barcelona, who have extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 38 matches.

Result: Barcelona through to CL last eight

Barcelona were without key centre-back Gerard Pique through suspension, but it was otherwise Luis Enrique's first-choice starting XI, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen taking Claudio Bravo's place between the sticks. Neymar, Messi and Suarez, meanwhile, all started in Spain and entered the match having netted 103 goals between them this season.

As for Arsenal, Laurent Koscielny returned from a calf problem to start alongside Gabriel Paulista at centre-back, while 19-year-old Alex Iwobi was given his first Champions League start of the season.

Elsewhere, Danny Welbeck was picked ahead of Olivier Giroud to lead the line and Mathieu Flamini was selected in central midfield ahead of Francis Coquelin.

The first half-chance of the match fell to Arsenal in the second minute, but Welbeck, who had been found by Mesut Ozil, kicked the ball against his own foot from a wide position inside the Barcelona box.

Ozil then came close himself after picking Andres Iniesta's pocket in midfield, but the German's effort bent wide of the post, much to the relief of Ter Stegen in the home side's goal.

Barcelona's first clear opportunity came in the 17th minute when Neymar found Messi with a stunning pass, but the Argentine could not beat Ospina from close range, before Jeremy Mathieu headed over from the resulting corner.

The home side were ahead one minute later, however, when Suarez slipped a pass in to Neymar, who took one touch inside the Arsenal box before finding the back of the net with supreme confidence.

Neymar had the chance to make it 2-0 in the 30th minute when he found more space inside the box, but the Brazilian's low strike was saved by Ospina.

Arsenal had a strong penalty shout in the 34th minute when Iwobi went down inside the box under pressure from Javier Mascherano, but the referee was not interested, despite replays showing that there was contact on the teenage forward.

Iwobi was again involved in the 37th minute following a cross from the right, but the attacker fired over the crossbar, before Mathieu did brilliantly to block a strike from Mohamed Elneny.

Arsenal's best chance of the first 45 minutes fell to former Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez five minutes before the break, but the Chilean headed a Hector Bellerin cross wide of the post as the Gunners entered the break 3-0 behind on aggregate.

Iwobi remained Arsenal's biggest threat and had the first chance of the second period, but the teenager's strike from a wide angle was deflected wide during a positive period for the visitors.

Indeed, Arsenal levelled the scores in the 51st minute when Sanchez set up Elneny, who picked out the top corner to open his account for the Gunners in real style.

Barcelona came close to a second goal when Neymar found Messi with a cute flick in the 55th minute, but Ospina was once again down to make a smart save.

Down the other end, a poor header from Mathieu set up an excellent chance for Welbeck, but Mascherano was across to make a stunning block during an end-to-end period of the match in Barcelona.

Barcelona had their second of the night in the 65th minute when Suarez volleyed a Dani Alves cross into the top corner, which all but ended Arsenal's chances of a comeback.

Welbeck hit the crossbar for the visitors moments after Suarez netted, before Wenger went for broke as he introduced both Giroud and Theo Walcott in a double change.

Sanchez came close to scoring a second for Arsenal 10 minutes from time when he bent a free kick towards the top corner, but Ter Stegen made the save before denying Giroud from the rebound.

Sergio Busquets might have made it 3-1 Barcelona in the 82nd minute from a free header inside the Arsenal box, but the Spanish midfielder missed the target under no pressure.

Down the other end, Walcott had a chance for the visitors after going through one-on-one with Ter Stegen, but Barcelona's number two made another smart save to keep the score at 2-1.

Messi was not to be denied in the 88th minute, however, as he chipped Ospina from close range to ensure that Barcelona would march into the final eight of the competition for the ninth time in a row.

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