FC Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain (3-1): Messi, Neymar and Suárez fire Barça to top spot
NICK BEDSON
Barça come back from early Ibra strike to brush aside PSG challenge
Barça’s trio of stellar strikers blew away PSG at the Camp Nou tonight, coming back from an early Ibrahimovic goal with two first half strikes from Messi and Neymar – surely a candidate for goal of the season so far – and a third after the break from Luis Suárez.
Early Ibra strike
Luis Enrique began with Piqué, Mathieu and Bartra at the back and threw Pedro a start wide on the right, with Mascherano partnering Busquets in the heart of the midfield. PSG early on showed their threat on the break and although Barça looked comfortable in possession, the visitors got the opener on 14 minutes when they broke down the right and Matuidi set up Ibra from Lucas Moura’s cross for the Swede to give PSG the lead. That advantage didn’t last long though, as Leo Messi, with his 75th Champions League goal, had Barça back on level terms within minutes. Mascherano clever ball over the top down the left, which Suárez pulled back across the goal where Messi raced in to tap home.
Beautiful Neymar curler
Both sides carved out opportunities after the Messi goal , with Lucas Moura missing a good chance and Sirigu doing very well to keep out a Suárez effort after a lovely one touch build up before on 41 minutes, Neymar popped up in space in front of the defence on the left and curled in a beautiful shot high and wide of the keeper to give Barça a 2-1 lead going into the break.
Suárez finishes PSG off
It was a cagier affair after the break and the assured looking Bartra cleared off the line as PSG pressed, but Luis Enrique was able to shuffle the pack and bring on Xavi and Ratikic after the hour mark. Soon the two were making their presence felt, combining with Messi across the edge of the box to put Neymar in on the left. The Brazilian’s shot was parried out only as far as Suárez, who tapped in for his second goal of the campaign on 76 minutes.
Messi nearly made it four with a rasping drive close to the end which went inches wide and Ibrahimovic tried his hand with a late, late free kick which sailed harmlessly over, but nothing was going to stop Barça tonight as their star studded forward line fired them to top spot in Group F
