PSG keep matters neutral against Barca

By Mohau Ramashidja

All of Paris came out to play given the handful they had to deal with in the UEFA champions’ league quarter final contest between FC Barcelona and Paris ST Germain FC.

The French Log leaders welcomed FC Barcelona to a congested Rarc Des Princes stadium. Filled to capacity, Barca found themselves outnumbered in the field of play as PSG fans came into form as the 12^th man.

A gruesome contest it turned out to be as yellow cards started flying out in the genesis of the match. Taking no nonsense and committing one, it was Barca’s defender Pique who picked the first yellow for manhandling PSG’s Ibrahimovic in the 18^th minute.

For a while, PSG’s hard work at training seemed to be working for them in neutralising Barca’s Lionel Messi. But as Ibrahimovic missed each scoring chance granted to him, it was Messi who continued to crack his skull to decipher the opposition’s defence. And so it was in the 38^th minute where Dani Alves curled in a spectacular cross to Messi who needed no second invitation in nailing in a shot with his left.

Fatigue getting the best of the most expensive defender worth 33 million Pounds, Tiago Silva found himself trailing behind as Messi surged forward in search for his second, unfortunately missing the top corner by inches.

The second half turned out to be as entertaining as the first. Barca found themselves without a scoring genius as the injured Messi made way for Cesc Fabregas. PSG’s Beckham bowed out of match with a record of being the first player to have made four appearances with different clubs in the UEFA champions’ league.

Frustrations loomed in the Barca camp as no player could rise up to the occasion of utilising 402 passes shared in the 70^th minute into scoring chances. Adamant to keep up, it was Ibrahimovic who forced in an equaliser after a set piece was deflected by the woodwork in the 79^th minute.

Wasting no time in a space of 10 minutes, Barca made use of the penalty granted to them. And it was Barcelona’s master passer and captain Xavi who had no problem in sending Sirugu to the wrong side while he placed it to the right.

With 4 minutes left on the clock, Barca cleared for safety hoping to walk away with a win. But that was not to be as Ibrahimovic availed himself yet again, this time to set up a pass with a header to Matuidi who ended the evening with a thunder bolt.

Score line 2-2.