Thursday 16 April 2015 09:11, UK
We look at the talking points from an intriguing night of Champions League football, which saw Barcelona win 3-1 at PSG and Porto shock Bayern Munich by the same scoreline...
Suarez has Luiz “on toast”
“He’s a great goalscorer, has great movement and great strength. He’s a great player and he showed that tonight.”
Luis Suarez’s impressive two-goal display at PSG had the pundits purring and Thierry Henry – who knows just what it takes to succeed at Barcelona – was quick to credit the former Liverpool man for his decisive performance at the Parc des Princes.
Suarez now has six goals in his last five Champions League appearances and 13 in 15 in all competitions. It’s a remarkable improvement for a player who was being criticised for a slow start in Spain. Although, it’s fair to say he was helped by some erratic defending from David Luiz on Wednesday night...
Suarez nutmegged the Brazilian as he cut in from the right flank to score his first and then, with Luiz exposed as the last defender, repeated the trick when the former Chelsea man jumped into a challenge.
“It’s fantastic from Suarez but it’s been a horrific five minutes from Luiz,” said Gary Neville. “He’s had him on toast.
“[PSG coach] Laurent Blanc won’t believe what he’s just seen. Two nutmegs, two goals. Both from Suarez. That is tie over. When you pay £50m for a centre-back you expect a little bit more than that.”
Neymar nets a typical Barcelona goal
Suarez’s double came after Neymar had opened the scoring. The Brazilian was sent through on goal by a neat Lionel Messi pass – the 12th assist the Argentine has provided for his strike partner this season.
Neymar has scored in all three appearances against PSG this term and his latest effort came from trademark Barcelona pressing, which led to Adrien Rabiot being disposed and the visitors breaking with lightning pace.
“As soon as they win the ball, Sergio Busquets slides it into Messi and it’s just eight touches and it’s in the back of the net,” said Jamie Redknapp. “That’s how to exploit a team that leave spaces for you.
“It’s clinical, it’s devastating and it’s wonderful football from their point of view. The simplicity and pace Barcelona do it with is brilliant.”
Bayern’s three sloppy mistakes cost goals
Bayern Munich had kept seven clean sheets in their previous 10 matches. They had only conceded two goals in their last six games at this stage of the Champions League. Yet, Porto seized on three uncharacteristic defensive blunders to shock the German giants on Wednesday.
First, Xabi Alonso was caught in possession on the edge of his own box by Jackson Martinez and Manuel Neuer was forced to bring down the striker and concede a penalty.
Then Ricardo Quaresma, who had converted the spot-kick, pounced on dallying Dante and slotted in a second.
Martinez was next to profit from a Dante misjudgement, latching onto a long-ball which the centre-back had missed before cooly rounding Neuer and sliding in a third.
Glenn Hoddle, however, was keen to put the praise on Porto and their relentless pressing.
“You’ve got to give praise to Porto for how they pressed Bayern,” he said. “They pressed from the first minute, they went for the throat and put the back four under pressure.
“They got the goals because they were prepared to take a risk, press high and do it collectively. It wasn’t one, it was in twos and threes. It paid off for them big time tonight.”
Neuer not being sent off
With just two minutes on the clock, it seemed Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was set to be sent off after bringing down Martinez. However, the referee only issued a yellow.
While Bayern went on to concede three, a stunning second-half save from the German, which kept out what looked like a certain Jerome Boateng own-goal, could prove crucial come the second leg.
“There’s no doubt he should have been sent off,” said Redknapp. “The saves he made towards the end of the game, could have big consequence.
“Is it a foul on Martinez? Absolutely. Neuer comes out, wipes him out. It’s a red card.”
Is it all over?
Only seven teams in the history of the Champions League have overturned a two goal first-leg deficit to progress through a knockout tie, with Chelsea the last to do so against PSG last season. So, are these ties over?
According to Henry, Barcelona are almost certain to go through. “There shouldn’t be a surprise. I don’t see PSG going to the Nou Camp and winning by three goals. Anything can happen – but I don’t see that happening!”
As for Bayern, Henry reckons a potential return of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben for the second leg could be decisive, while Hoddle said: “The away goal is key. I’d go for Bayern.”
Given the Germans have progressed past this stage four times in a row and have 11 different goalscorers in the Champions League so far this season, there is every reason to believe Pep Guardiola’s men aren’t done for yet…
