Barca hopeful on Messi as PSG eyes upset
Source: Agencies |
April 4, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LIONEL Messi has not been ruled out of Barcelona's Champions League quarterfinal second-leg against Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday despite suffering a hamstring problem in the first leg on Tuesday night.
The four-time world player of the year was substituted at half-time of the 2-2 draw against the Parisians and will miss Saturday's Liga clash with Mallorca.
However, he could yet return against PSG depending on how he recovers over the coming days.
"The medical services of the club have confirmed after carrying out tests that Leo Messi has suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg," said a statement on the club's website yesterday.
"He is out of the league game on Saturday and his evolution will decide his availability for the games that follow."
With Messi injured, the spotlight is firmly on his misfiring strike partners.
Messi joined Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Galatasaray's Burak Yilmaz as the competition's leading scorers with eight goals, but the closest any of his team mates come to that is left back Jordi Alba's two goals.
"Good draw, but very expensive!" was the front-page headline of Barcelona-based daily Sport yesterday, after the side notched up valuable away goals but lost Javier Mascherano and possibly Messi to injuries.
Spain's David Villa and Pedro, Chile's Alexis Sanchez, and midfielder-cum-forward Cesc Fabregas, have managed only three goals between them in Europe for Barcelona, trailing way behind the Champions League's leading scorer for the last four seasons in a row.
PSG, meanwhile, showed it has the guts to go with the wallet as the ambitious big spenders twice came from behind to salvage the draw against the four-time champion.
Blaise Matuidi's deflected shot crept into the net in the fourth minute of injury time to provide a bit of hope for PSG ahead of the return leg at the Nou Camp.
"We showed good character and a good attitude on the pitch," PSG's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "With Barcelona you have to defend, but when you have the ball you need to be dangerous and have good attacking ideas. I have confidence we can do it."
The team's two superstar strikers canceled each other out in a frenzied atmosphere at Parc des Princes, with Messi putting Barcelona ahead with his 57th goal of the season before his injury. Zlatan Ibrahimovic replied for PSG before setting up Matuidi's last-gasp equalizer in the final seconds.
The Catalans will be annoyed at not going home with a lead, however, after Xavi Hernandez's 89th-minute penalty looked certain to seal victory, but goalkeeper Victor Valdes allowed Matuidi's deflected strike to squirm under his body and over the line.
PSG will be without Matuidi for the return leg as he is suspended.
"It's a blow for us because Blaise is an important player," Ancelotti said.
The four-time world player of the year was substituted at half-time of the 2-2 draw against the Parisians and will miss Saturday's Liga clash with Mallorca.
However, he could yet return against PSG depending on how he recovers over the coming days.
"The medical services of the club have confirmed after carrying out tests that Leo Messi has suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg," said a statement on the club's website yesterday.
"He is out of the league game on Saturday and his evolution will decide his availability for the games that follow."
With Messi injured, the spotlight is firmly on his misfiring strike partners.
Messi joined Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Galatasaray's Burak Yilmaz as the competition's leading scorers with eight goals, but the closest any of his team mates come to that is left back Jordi Alba's two goals.
"Good draw, but very expensive!" was the front-page headline of Barcelona-based daily Sport yesterday, after the side notched up valuable away goals but lost Javier Mascherano and possibly Messi to injuries.
Spain's David Villa and Pedro, Chile's Alexis Sanchez, and midfielder-cum-forward Cesc Fabregas, have managed only three goals between them in Europe for Barcelona, trailing way behind the Champions League's leading scorer for the last four seasons in a row.
PSG, meanwhile, showed it has the guts to go with the wallet as the ambitious big spenders twice came from behind to salvage the draw against the four-time champion.
Blaise Matuidi's deflected shot crept into the net in the fourth minute of injury time to provide a bit of hope for PSG ahead of the return leg at the Nou Camp.
"We showed good character and a good attitude on the pitch," PSG's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "With Barcelona you have to defend, but when you have the ball you need to be dangerous and have good attacking ideas. I have confidence we can do it."
The team's two superstar strikers canceled each other out in a frenzied atmosphere at Parc des Princes, with Messi putting Barcelona ahead with his 57th goal of the season before his injury. Zlatan Ibrahimovic replied for PSG before setting up Matuidi's last-gasp equalizer in the final seconds.
The Catalans will be annoyed at not going home with a lead, however, after Xavi Hernandez's 89th-minute penalty looked certain to seal victory, but goalkeeper Victor Valdes allowed Matuidi's deflected strike to squirm under his body and over the line.
PSG will be without Matuidi for the return leg as he is suspended.
"It's a blow for us because Blaise is an important player," Ancelotti said.
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