By CARL SETTERLUND
After reaching three of the last five UEFA Champions League finals, Bayern Munich is in danger of being knocked out in the quarterfinal round, which would be the Bavarians’ earliest exit since 2011.
Host FC Porto rallied to a 3-1 win over injury-weakened Bayern in the first leg of their matchup after the ever-dangerous Ricardo Quaresma came through with a brace in the opening 10 minutes.
If Porto can hang on in the second leg, it would be the furthest they’ve advanced since a Jose Mourinho-led Porto squad shocked the world to win the Champions League title in 2004.
The surprise result still couldn’t overshadow a heavyweight matchup in the other UCL matchup on Wednesday, as Barcelona got two impressive goals from Luis Suarez to take a 3-1 advantage over Paris-Saint Germain.
Just like Bayern, PSG went without several regulars as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verrati missed Wednesday’s first leg due to suspension, while Thiago Motta subbed out early in the 21st minute.
Lionel Messi set up Neymar for the go-ahead tally on a through ball in the 18th minute, while Suarez added goals 12 minutes apart in the 67th and 79th minutes.
Suarez dribbled through three defenders and finished low on his first goal and then Barca looked set for a romp after he nutmegged David Luiz and finished into the upper right corner to make it 3-0.
PSG received a gift soon after, though, as Jeremy Mathieu deflected Gregory Van Der Wiel’s shot in for own goal. As a result, the Parisians are down but not quite out as the two sides prepare to meet again on Tuesday at the Camp Nou.
Bayern was even more shorthanded than PSG, missing David Alaba, Mehdi Benatia, Javi Martinez, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger due to injury. Pep Guardiola will hope for some quick recoveries in time for the second leg at Allianz Arena, also next Tuesday.
Manuel Neuer avoided a red card for tripping up Jackson Martinez in the second minute, but Quaresma finished the resulting penalty kick to send Porto ahead for good. In the 10th minute, Quaresma took a turnover all the way to double the lead.
Thiago Alcantara got on the end of a Jerome Boateng cross to pull it back to 2-1 in the 28th minute, but Martinez — an injury concern entering the match — set the final score with a 65th-minute tally.
What did you think of Wednesday UCL action? What does Porto have to do to hold on in the second leg? Which Suarez goal impressed you more?
Share your thoughts below.
Poor David luiz!!lol
Rough day at the office for sure! Two Luiz nutmegs = two Suarez goals
Also, no way PSG recovers and Bayern will pull through.
Bayern can. Dunno about will. I would agree if Robben is back.
I hate Suarez as a person, but the guy is a monster footballer. There is no way David Luiz recovers mentally and emotionally after this humiliation at the hands of Suarez today. David Luiz is done as a footballer and Dunga should never call him to the national team.
David Luiz did not start this game and obviously wasn’t ready to play because of his hamstring injury. He’s actually had a good year for PSG and Brazil hasn’t lost since the World Cup. So while he may have his faults as a defender, I don’t think today was particularly fair to him given the circumstances.
Adam’s right. He’s coming off an injury and then asked to defend against the likes of Suarez. Thiago Silva also got injured, so it’s no surprise PSG were weak at the back.