First Half: Negredo has an effort across goal cleared away from goal. Kompany has a headed effort saved on the line. Xavi has a long range driven shot parried away. Negredo heads wide of the near post.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Penalty! Demichelis fouls Messi on the edge of the box. OFF! Demichelis is shown a straight red card for being the last man and denying a goalscoring opportunity. Goal! 0-1, Barcelona take the lead as Messi slots the penalty low and down the middle. Silva has a volley saved. Pique has a goal ruled out for offside. Goal! 0-2, Barcelona double their lead as Alves skips past the defence before slotting a low shot from an acute angle through the legs of Hart.
Full Time: 0-2.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Messi. Barcelona put one foot in the Quarters. The major turning point of the match was when Barcelona were awarded a controversial penalty and Demichelis was sent off as a result. It was definitely a foul by Demichelis but for me, the challenge looked to have been just outside of the box. No doubt that it was a red card as he was the last man and clearly denied a goal scoring opportunity. Barcelona may well have scored from a resulting free kick but Messi was never going to miss from the spot. Consequently, City were forced into damage limitation mode for the rest of the match.
Man City played well in the first half and came closest to scoring when Kompany had a header cleared off the line. Negredo had a few chances but failed to open the deadlock. Not sure why Pellegrini opted to change the formation of the team from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1. Seems to me like they paid Barcelona too much respect and should have stuck to how they normally play. It was a huge shame to see the game ruined by Demichelis being sent off. Totally deserved a red but he proved once again to be City's weak link. Going one down was tough to take but they conceded a late goal which pretty much ended the tie. It will take a monumental effort at the Nou Camp to overturn the deficit but I can't see it happening.
Barcelona eased themselves into the match and played cautiously in the first half. Their only real chance of note came when Xavi had a long shot parried away by Hart. However, they were awarded a huge boost early in the second half as Messi was given a penalty. Once they went 1-0 up and had the extra man, they dominated the match. They were brilliant with and on the ball and showed their class. Alves scored a late goal to pretty much end the tie as Barcelona go into the second leg with two away goals. They will be massive favourites to progress now and I can't see them losing the tie from here.
Bayer Leverkusen 0 v 4 Paris Saint Germain Matuidi (3), Ibrahimovic (39pen,42), Cabaye (88)
Best Goal: Alves, Ibrahimovic. Winner: Ibrahimovic
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