By DAN KARELL
Two times during the match, the odds were against Paris Saint-Germain rescuing a point or finding a win.
But twice, the French side came back from a goal down to tie the scoreline in both controversial and dramatic fashion, tying Barcelona, 2-2, on Tuesday night in UEFA Champions League quarterfinal action in Paris.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi scored the first for his club, but limped off just before halftime and was replaced by Cesc Fabregas to start the second half.
In the day’s other quarterfinal, Bayern Munich exerted control over their series with Juventus, beating the Italian side, 2-0. Left back David Alaba needed just 23 seconds to get Bayern’s first goal of the match, with the always dangerous Thomas Muller getting on the score sheet in the 63rd minute.
The German club showed that their massive win last Saturday was no fluke, completely dominating and outworking Juventus over the course of the 90 minutes. Mario Mandzukic kept the three-man backline of Juventus busy all evening, while midfielders Frank Ribery, Arjen Robben, Alaba, and right back Phillip Lahm constantly made runs on the wings, keeping the Italian counterparts busy.
Barcelona had a comfortable lead midway through the second half, with PSG seeming to tire. Then in the 79th minute, PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic finally got on the board, finishing from close range to tie the match at one. Replays showed that he was in an offside position before he received the ball but the assistant referee missed it, and the goal stood.
Barcelona scored one back in the 84th minute when forward Alexis Sanchez won a penalty, which was converted by midfielder Xavi Hernandez with ease. But in the fourth minute of injury time, PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi’s deflected shot on goal wrong-footed the Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdes, and slowly rolled into the net.
What do you make of the results? Do you see Messi playing in the return leg? Do you believe Bayern are in a good position?
Share your thoughts below.