Iniesta returns to power Barca into semifinals
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ANDRES Iniesta will always be a hero to Barcelona and Spain fans but some had started to question whether the 30-year-old’s best days were behind him.
The playmaker’s outrageous skills were on full display again on Tuesday, however, as he cut through the Paris Saint-Germain midfield and released Neymar in front of goal to put Barcelona 1-0 ahead in the 14th minute of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, second leg.
Already leading 3-1 from last week’s first leg in Paris, Neymar’s goal, the first of a double in a 2-0 win for Barcelona on the night, effectively killed PSG’s chances of a comeback.
The Catalan giant eased through to the last four for the seventh time in eight seasons and a record 11th time in the Champions League era.
Iniesta’s stunning slalom in the buildup to the opening goal brought fans at the Nou Camp to their feet.
Receiving the ball from center back Javier Mascherano deep in their own half with his back to the PSG goal, a clever feint took Iniesta past advancing midfielder Yohan Cabaye.
Forward Edinson Cavani attempted to rob the ball but Iniesta simply motored past him before a burst of pace took him away from midfielder Marco Verratti’s desperate lunge. Advancing on the retreating PSG back line, Iniesta waited until the perfect moment before threading a pass between the defenders and Neymar took the ball around PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and poked it into the empty net.
It was only a third assist of the season for Iniesta in the Champions League, while he has made none in La Liga and two in the Copa del Rey as Barcelona chases a treble of trophies to match its historic haul from 2009 under Pep Guardiola.
“I was never away but some people see things one way and others another,” Iniesta said. “I always try to do things well. I am very happy with the way everything is working out. I think you can always improve everything.”
Barcelona will learn who its opponent in the last four is in tomorrow’s draw, with Bayern Munich already through after it crushed Porto on Tuesday.
Holder Real Madrid was hosting Atletico Madrid yesterday with the city rivals locked at 0-0, while Italian champion Juventus had a 1-0 advantage when it plays at Monaco.
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