Neymar bags double as Luiz suffers again

ALL WELL and good having Brazilians in your team but they have to be the right ones. Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals last night at Paris Saint-Germain’s expense and Neymar tied David Luiz in knots in the process. There were no Luis Suarez nutmegs this time but the former Chelsea defender found himself back pedalling hopelessly on 14 minutes as Neymar scooted past him for Barcelona’s opener. He was then a spectator 20 minutes later when his Brazil team-mate got the second, climbing unmarked to head Dani Alves’ cross past Salvatore Sirigu to make it 5-1 on aggregate. PSG’s soft centre cost them in the first leg and it was cruelly exposed again. Luiz was booked inside the first five minutes for a foul on Andres Iniesta, who ran the first half. The man who won the World Cup for Spain but is these days criticised for neither scoring nor assisting went on a sublime run for the first goal pulling away from Edinson Cavani and swerving past Marco Verratti before releasing Neymar. The French champions thought they were back in the game on 17 minutes when Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the ball in the net but he was a yard offside when Blaise Matuidi slipped him through and the flag was raised to rule out the goal. Suarez and Lionel Messi were also impressive as Barcelona dominated and Alves looked like a man trying to impress a potential employer. PSG could still be a possible destination for him beyond the end of this season and he tested Sirigu from distance before his assist for Neymar’s second goal. Neymar (right) said: ‘We did the same that we did in Paris, we came out and played our game and scored the goals we needed. ‘I think we are on good form, in the Champions League, in La Liga, everything and hopefully we can continue the same way.’ With Suarez and Alves snapping into challenges and Iniesta and Neymar providing the finesse Barcelona — watched by British tennis No 1 Andy Murray — were dominant. They eased up after the break, although Ivan Rakitic saw his shot saved and Messi went close with a chip that Sirigu held. Luis Enrique’s side were so comfortable at half-time Xavi replaced the impeccable Iniesta for the second half. With probably his best performance for Barcelona since the heady days under Pep Guardiola, Iniesta had earned his early cut. Guardiola was the name on most supporters lips as news filtered through that Bayern were also in the last four. The prospect of them meeting in the draw tomorrow is mouth-watering, although on current form and in view of his side’s injuries Guardiola might want to wait until Berlin on June 6.

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen 6; Alves 8, Pique 7, Mascherano 6, Alba 6; Rakitic 6, Busquets 6 (Sergi 55, 6), Iniesta 8 (Xavi 46, 7); Messi 8, Suarez 8 (Pedro 75, 6), Neymar 8.5. Subs not used: Bravo, Do Nascimento, Bartra,

Adriano.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (4-3-3): Sirigu 5; Van der Weil 6, Marquinhos 6, David Luiz 5, Maxwell 6; Veratti 6, Cabaye 6 (Lucas Moura 66), Matuidi 7 (Rabiot 80); Cavani 6 (Lavezzi 80), Ibrahimovic 6, Pastore 6.

Subs not used: Douchez, Camara, Bahebeck, Digne. Booked: David Luiz.

Man of the match: Neymar. Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen

(Nor) 7.