Barca relief tempered by reliance on Messi
Source: Agencies |
April 12, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ANDRES Iniesta admitted this week that Barcelona suffers from "Messi-dependence" and his view was painfully highlighted as the favorite labored in the Champions League quarterfinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Messi started on the bench at the Nou Camp after straining a hamstring in last week's 2-2 first-leg draw in Paris and for the hour before his introduction, Barcelona produced a flat performance.
Cesc Fabregas was deployed in Messi's roving forward role as he had been on Saturday when he scored a hat-trick against Real Mallorca in La Liga, but the Spaniard made little impact as passes went astray and possession was surrendered easily.
A fired-up PSG side stuffed with expensive talent was an entirely different proposition to Mallorca and the Ligue 1 leader came close to inflicting a first home defeat on the Catalans in the Champions League in 21 games since October 2009.
When Messi replaced Fabregas in the 62nd minute, the host was losing 0-1 on the night and 2-3 on aggregate thanks to Javier Pastore's goal five minutes after halftime.
The mere sight of Messi warming up had already lifted the palpably nervous fans and when the Argentina international entered the fray, Barcelona was transformed.
He was clearly short on fitness but it was his clever pass to David Villa with around 20 minutes left that allowed the Spain forward to feed Pedro, who cracked a first-time shot past Salvatore Sirigu.
With Messi on the pitch, a reliable link between the forward and the midfield was restored, and Barcelona was better able to control possession and secure a sixth straight appearance in the last four.
"In Leo we are talking about the best player in the world and when things are not going well you have to use him," center back Gerard Pique, who came through Barcelona's youth ranks with Messi, said.
While Barcelona's subdued performance without its talisman was a concern, it can comfort itself with the knowledge that he is likely to be fully fit for the semifinals.
Real Madrid, last year's runner-up Bayern Munich and former German champion Borussia Dortmund are also through and the draw for the semis will be made today.
Messi started on the bench at the Nou Camp after straining a hamstring in last week's 2-2 first-leg draw in Paris and for the hour before his introduction, Barcelona produced a flat performance.
Cesc Fabregas was deployed in Messi's roving forward role as he had been on Saturday when he scored a hat-trick against Real Mallorca in La Liga, but the Spaniard made little impact as passes went astray and possession was surrendered easily.
A fired-up PSG side stuffed with expensive talent was an entirely different proposition to Mallorca and the Ligue 1 leader came close to inflicting a first home defeat on the Catalans in the Champions League in 21 games since October 2009.
When Messi replaced Fabregas in the 62nd minute, the host was losing 0-1 on the night and 2-3 on aggregate thanks to Javier Pastore's goal five minutes after halftime.
The mere sight of Messi warming up had already lifted the palpably nervous fans and when the Argentina international entered the fray, Barcelona was transformed.
He was clearly short on fitness but it was his clever pass to David Villa with around 20 minutes left that allowed the Spain forward to feed Pedro, who cracked a first-time shot past Salvatore Sirigu.
With Messi on the pitch, a reliable link between the forward and the midfield was restored, and Barcelona was better able to control possession and secure a sixth straight appearance in the last four.
"In Leo we are talking about the best player in the world and when things are not going well you have to use him," center back Gerard Pique, who came through Barcelona's youth ranks with Messi, said.
While Barcelona's subdued performance without its talisman was a concern, it can comfort itself with the knowledge that he is likely to be fully fit for the semifinals.
Real Madrid, last year's runner-up Bayern Munich and former German champion Borussia Dortmund are also through and the draw for the semis will be made today.
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