Match News

45′ +1

Ooooh so close to breaking for Cesc!!! Iniesta's pass takes a couple of kind deflections and almost falls for today's Messi replacement, but his reactions are slow and it runs for a corner. No joy either from the kick.

45′

Between the two Barca and PSG have mustered 20 attempts on goal in this first half. So why has there been almost no danger of anyone getting on the scoresheet. So far they've had the marksmanship skills of Star Wars stormtroopers.

43′

No compatriot love there!!! Lucas is on the ball, until he is poleaxed by a devastating Adriano tackle. The left back's yellow earns him a ban, but the two are all hugs in the end.

42′

Yellow Card Adriano

42′

Give the ballboys a break guys!! Come on, seriously. Fabregas takes the shot on himself from just outside the area and it doesn't quite reach row Z, but at least Q or R.

40′

Ooooooooooooh Flaco!!! A delightful, sumptuous, delicate through ball from Pastore comes so close to finding Zlatan free in the area. Valdes though was quick as a flash, and comes out well to smother.

39′

There's been plenty of shots in this half, but generally they've gone in every direction except goalbound. An off-balance Villa is the next to put the fans behind the net through their paces, as he kindly gives them the ball.

37′

Thanks to Uefa for this stat: "PSG are on average 6cm taller per man than Barca". Throw on Messi, please, and let the giant redress the balance.

36′

Villaaaaaaa!!! The attacker bamboozles Jallet out wide, puts the cross in and... No-ones home. Not a soul. Nadie. Another offensive goes awry.

35′

Uffff. Alex was arriving through the middle and jumped as if using some sort of invisible trampoline, but the ball was just too high (it was about 20 metres off the ground) and grazes his head to roll away from danger.

34′

Nicely done again Lucas & Pastore. The Argentine breaks through the middle, Lucas hasn't got much space from his pass but plays it off the defender for a corner.

33′

Dani Alves came off for a knock and is screaming, manically to come back on. Here he comes, an ironic applause for the ref and the Camp Nou, rather ironically too, explodes in delight. That was odd.

31′

Here we go, sensible stuff from the Cules. They're going to knock the ball around a bit and calm down, not a bad plan.

29′

Barca's defence here doing a canny impression of a leaky bucket. Zlatan lifts the cross up and Lucas is there to meet, blissfully unmarked. Valdes saves well, and gets up again to deny Alex from the corner!!!

27′

Pastore's having a great game so far, he strides forward like the gazelle he is and lets in Lavezzi down the left. Eze, however, cannot find the cross.

26′

Ibra will most likely not be too pleased with his partner there, it was an inspired ball across the deck from the Swede that set him up.

25′

LAVEZZI! LAVEZZI!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING LAVEZZI!!!! The forward had the lead at his mercy, clean through with Valdes. The shot thought was weaker than a paper skyscraper and Barca are pardoned, oh my.

23′

Ooh Dani Alves is vexed. The Brazilian had moved forward on the overlap but the ball from Busquets was ugly and out for a goal kick.

22′

Pedro Pedro Pedroooo... The winger punches a hole down the left, puts in a cross which is palmed out by the PSG keeper. He picks up the rebound and slams into the side netting, close there.

21′

Great stuff from Lucas, he turns on the motors and steams past his marker in a dangerous area. The Brazilian tries a one-two with Lavezzi, but the return pass is awful and out for a goal kick.

20′

Incidentally, Is it just me or does Zlatan look like a creepy, Children of the Cornesque 12-year-old schoolgirl with that ponytail? Just a thought.

19′

Lucas has got a big boot on him, and he shows it off again after being fed by Zlatan. Fortunately for Barca, it's well over the bar.

17′

Alves makes space on the right, a low cross which finds a well-marked Villa. David takes it first time, catches a boot and wins the corner.

16′

Lavezziiiiiiiiii. The striker combines with his compatriot Pastore and makes spaces on the edge of the box, but his effort reaches the upper tiers of the imposing Camp Nou. Disappointing.

14′

Maxwell to Pastore out on the left, a slow build-up across the pitch and over to Lucas who smashes in from deep. Valdes is down well, and holds.

13′

Some decent pressure there from Barca while I took that little pop detour, Fabregas and Pedro both having shots blocked. This is going to be hectic from start to finish I reckon.

12′

Of course whatever we think of Pique on the pitch, there is one indisputable fact: he has a baby with Shakira. You have my respect sir.

11′

Oh dear Gerard, a gift of a pass to a white shirt but PSG can't capitalise. After a fairly insane first 10 minutes, something approaching normal rhythm is descending over this one.

9′

Nothing happening there though, Xavi lobs short, Pique tries some sort of heel which fails miserably and it's out for a goal kick.

8′

Iniesta and Fabregas do well on the edge of the area, Andres ends up with the ball and he has an inch of space... blocked for a corner.

8′

Cesc has it on the edge of the area, he shapes to shoot but at the release he's clipped from behind by Motta and it goes wide. He wants a foul, but he's not getting one.

7′

Hang on guys!!! Another dangerous free kick here, it'll be Xavi again. No, Villa takes it after a feint, but it's into the wall.

6′

Almost Pedro, who runs on to Busquet's deep pass but he's fractionally offside.

5′

These players are barely giving me a moment to catch up! Lavezzi chases a long ball down the middle but Pique gets over to cover, passing back to Valdes to clear.

4′

Oh dear Alex, that's the second ball you've given away already in your own half. Luckily it's pardoned as PSG win the free-kick, but it's suicide to surrender possession like that against Barca.

3′

Pastore, Zlatan and Lavezzi combine up the other end straight from the goal kick, Ezequiel tries his luck from the left but Valdes palms it down easily.

3′

It's Xavi, Xavi, Xavi and..... GOOOOOO... NO!!!!!! My word, I thought that was in and so did the Camp Nou. Millimetres wide from the captain.

2′

Ooh PSG are sloppy there, giving the ball away and Cesc is pulled down outside the box. Who will step up for the kick?

1′

And we're off!! PSG get us started in Catalunya, let's goooooo!!