Luis Suarez made a mockery out of PSG defender David Luiz, nutmegging him twice to score two second-half goals and practically take the game away from the French champions, who now have to score at least twice in the second leg in Barcelona. PHOTO: AFP
The visitors’ all-star attack made their class count as Neymar coolly converted from a Lionel Messi assist in the 18th minute to put Luis Enrique’s men in control, before Suarez produced two clinical finishes in the final quarter of the game.
PSG got one back eight minutes from time from what was credited as a Jeremy Mathieu own-goal from a Gregory van der Wiel shot, but this was their first home defeat of the season and a first loss at home in Europe in 34 matches since 2006.
Next Tuesday’s second leg at the Camp Nou now looks set to be a formality, even if PSG will have talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti back from suspension by then.
“We were superior in midfield, were dangerous going forward and defended well as a team. It was a complete performance from us,” said Barcelona coach Luis Enrique. “But we are not going to make the mistake of thinking the tie is finished.”
The French champions have been eliminated on away goals at this stage of the competition in each of the last two seasons, including against Barca in 2013, but they will do very well to even make it that close on this occasion.
“I’m not fixated by having possession but when one team forces another back, especially with an attacking trio of their quality, it’s difficult,” admitted Paris coach Laurent Blanc.
Porto’s night to remember stuns Bayern
Goal-scorer Ricardo Quaresma hailed Porto’s shock 3-1 quarter-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich as a night to remember to leave them on the verge of the semi-finals.
Porto carry a weighty advantage to Munich for Tuesday’s return leg, while Bayern have only a glimmer of hope and must score at least twice.
The hosts exploited early mistakes by Bayern’s Xabi Alonso and Dante to get a dream start with right winger Quaresma converting a penalty, then scoring Porto’s second goal in the opening 10 minutes.
Bayern pulled one back through Thiago Alcantara with 28 minutes gone but Porto captain Jackson Martinez added their third on 65 minutes.
“This is a night to remember, but more important than my performance was our victory,” said the 31-year-old Quaresma who has scored five goals in his last three games. “We knew we were facing a great team, so we have to be happy. I only do my job, I am in a good place and so is the team.”
Martinez proved his fitness by pressing Bayern’s Alonso into an early mistake which led to Quaresma’s penalty after just three minutes, then sprinted around Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for Porto’s third.
“It’s a great win, but we know it doesn’t decide who will go through.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2015.
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