SM
Barcelona vs. Valencia: 14 hrs 31 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
PL
Champions League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 15, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
BL

1-3

Mathieu (82' og.)
FT(HT: 0-1)
Neymar (18'), Suarez (67', 79')

Barcelona ease to away win over Paris Saint-Germain

:Headline: Result: Barcelona ease to away win over Paris Saint-Germain: ID:217374: from db_amp
Barcelona secure a comfortable 3-1 win in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona have opened up a 3-1 lead in their Champions League quarter-final tie with victory against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes this evening.

The hosts could have opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes when Maxwell and Blaise Matuidi linked up, with the latter providing a cross for Javier Pastore but the Argentine could not stretch to turn it in.

Barcelona soon started to cause problems down the other end as Luis Suarez played the ball to Lionel Messi on the edge of the box, leaving the striker to curl it towards the goal, only to see his finish kept out by the post.

The Spanish side were ahead inside the opening 20 minutes though as Messi pounced on a loose ball before finding Neymar, leaving the Brazilian to fire home from close range.

PSG's hopes were dealt a further blow a few minutes later when captain Thiago Silva was forced off injured, leaving David Luiz, who is also carrying an injury, to take his place.

The French champions did threaten the equalise before the break as Matuidi charged forward, eventually finding Edinson Cavani, but his effort was blocked by Javier Mascherano.

Salvatore Sirigu had to remain alert down the other end though as Suarez tried to double the visitors' lead before the interval, but his finish was straight at the keeper.

Pastore was quick out of the blocks again in the second half as he tried to catch out the keeper with a deflected effort from the edge of the box, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen was able to punch it away.

The young German continued to come under pressure between the posts as Andres Iniesta lost the ball in midfield shortly before being forced off with a knock, giving Adrien Rabiot a chance to level the scores, but his 20-yard effort could not beat the keeper.

PSG continued to look for opportunities on the counter-attack, with Yohan Cabaye getting back to take the ball away from Neymar, while Cavani was unable to get a shot away after Pastore played the ball out from the back.

The visitors started to look the more likely again as the match headed into the final half-hour, and they added a second when Suarez outmuscled several defenders before chipping the ball past Sirigu, who got a hand to it but could not keep the strike out.

Cavani came close again moments later as PSG tried to get a foothold in the tie, unleashing a powerful low strike, but Ter Stegen got across the goal to make a diving save.

Barcelona were soon on the offensive down the other end as Messi dodged a number of challenges on the edge of the box before blasting the ball just wide.

Luis Enrique's side did make it three moments later though as Suarez won the ball again, sprinting past the struggling Luiz before firing into the top corner, scoring his second in just over 10 minutes.

PSG did get a goal back before the end of the match as Gregory van der Wiel got forward to try a strike from the edge of the box, which took a deflection off Jeremy Mathieu to leave Ter Stegen stranded.

The sides will play again at Camp Nou next week, with PSG needing to score at least three goals to stand a chance of reaching the last four.

amp_article__217374 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-04-16 10:39:05:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 16:21:11 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2GironaGirona33225669402971
3Barcelona32217464372770
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis33121384139249
8Valencia32138113534147
9Villarreal33129125455-145
10Getafe331013104145-443
11Osasuna33116163749-1239
12Sevilla33911134246-438
13AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano33713132742-1534
16Mallorca33614132739-1232
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz33414152346-2326
19Granada3349203661-2521
RAlmeria33111213267-3514
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .