By David Lee Wheatley
Barca squander late advantage
Barcelona living legend Lionel Messi gave the Catalans a half-time lead in Paris, but the home side hit back to grab a draw from the jaws of defeat in the Parc des Princes this evening.
Messi gave the visitors a 38th-minute lead after a fine ball from Dani Alves put the little Argentine through on goal. The Brazilian wing-back hit the pass with the outside of his right foot, finding Messi on the left side of the box. The outcome of the move was never in doubt, as he smashed the ball emphatically into the bottom corner.
The goalscoring phenomenon went off with a hamstring strain shortly after, though, and Barcelona seemed to become more laboured after the break. Still, they kept control over the middle of the park against a somewhat pedestrian PSG midfield until Carlo Ancelotti started to bring fresh legs into the fray.
Ibrahimovic was largely ineffectual when given the ball in advanced areas and he was becoming frustrated at losing possession so readily. However, Barca gave away a silly free-kick 30 yards from goal, which was sent in for Thiago Silva to latch on to. The captain nodded on to the left-hand post with the rebound finding Ibrahimovic in an offside position. The officials failed to spot that rather important fact and the Swede muscled his way in front of his marker to equalise against his former club.
With a minute remaining of normal time, Alexis went through and invited the foul from the keeper. He was clipped slightly and went into a forward roll to make sure he got the referee's call. Xavi stepped up to coolly slot home for a 2-1 advantage.
It looked likely that Barcelona would go back home with a clear lead, but in injury-time Ibrahimovic knocked a cross down to Matuidi on the edge of the box, who dispatched a shot that took a minimal deflection to wrong-foot Valdes and that was enough to take the ball past the despairing right hand of the Barca goalkeeper.
Two away goals puts Barcelona in the strongest position going into the second leg, but Paris Saint-Germain remain in the tie ahead of the Camp Nou clash.
Barcelona will desperately hope to have Messi available for the second leg, but should his hamstring injury keep him out, then it'll be all to play for in the Catalan capital.
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