Tuesday, 2 April 2013

Last Minute Equaliser Rescues PSG While Quick Firing Bayern Take Two Goal Lead To Italy

Bayern Munich look to be in control of booking a place in the semi-finals after a 2-0 victory over Juventus in the Allianz Arena. It's also advantage Barcelona in the second quarter final as they will bring two away goals back to Camp Nou and would have won the first leg if it wasn't for the last kick of the game.

PSG actually started the better against Barcelona and came mighty close to taking the lead after just five minutes when Ezequiel Lavezzi's lofted effort ended up hitting the post and stayed out. Victor Valdes was also called in to action, saving a low Zlatan Ibrahimovic free-kick when many hoped it was David Beckham who would have took it.

Barcelona grew in confidence throughout the half and began to take control of possession. PSG stood firm though and Salvatore Sirigu was only made to scramble from an Andres Iniesta curler that just went past the post. But a piece of world class football and a lapse of concentration in the PSG's defence allowed the deadlock to be broken seven minutes before half-time. Dani Alves played a great cross in with the outside of his foot and Lionel Messi, who made the run to break the offside trap, ghosted in and converted from an acute angle to score his eighth of the tournament. But Messi's match was cut short as he didn't return for the second half after suffering a hamstring twinge just before the whistle.

The drama from the second half didn't begin until 11-minutes from time when Thiago Silva's effort came off the post before Ibrahimovic smashed the ball home. But the Swede was miles offside when Thiago Silva headed the ball. But Barcelona looked have won the game in the final minute of normal time when Sirigu brought Alexis Sanchez down in the box. Xavi gleefully stepped up to take the penalty and sent Sirigu the wrong way to make it 2-1.

But the action wasn't over and PSG grabbed an equaliser with the final kick of the game. The ball broke loose to Blaise Matuidi and the Frenchman's powerful shot went through two defenders before going straight at Valdes. But the keeper seemed bamboozled, possibly by his lack of vision, and spilt the ball in to his net. The score draw definitely favours Barcelona but Javier Mascherano and Matuidi will be out of the second leg after picking up yellow cards in the Parc Des Princes.

Bayern Munich had the lead in Germany after just 25-seconds when David Alaba's effort took a deflection of Arturo Vidal before beating Gianluigi Buffon. Toni Kroos was forced off just after the quarter of an hour mark but the hosts dominated much of the game.

Munich were rewarded for their continued pressure in the second half when Thomas Muller tapped the ball home after Luiz Gustavo's effort was parried by Buffon. Juventus' best chance fell to Vidal but the Italians will be hoping for a better performance in the second leg.  

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