IT’S NO DEJA NOU!
Barca can’t come up with another miracle as Juventus hold firm
MIRACLES rarely come in twos and so it proved for Barcelona, who went out of the Champions League after failing to claw back the 3-0 first-leg defeat.
In the build-up to the game, Barca had made much of the fact that all their home games in Europe this season had ended with a result that would have seen them go through last night. But the Old Lady of Turin was not spooked.
Why would she be? With Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci immense in front of the goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, evergreen at 39, there was no way through. Barcelona could not score once, let alone three times.
When the final whistle blew Neymar was in tears. His performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the last round had got them here but it had turned into their last stop.
Luis Suarez was embraced by Chiellini and the two swapped shirts. They had fought another bruising battle — this time with no bite — but once again the Uruguayan had been frustrated at every turn.
Lionel Messi stood crestfallen alongside Suarez. Once again he had failed to score past Buffon, who it seems will retire never having been beaten by one of history’s greatest goalscorers.
Attacking football is what brings people to football but it’s the whole package they stay for. And when it comes to the art of defending, Massimiliano Allegri’s team are as good as any.
Luis Enrique, in what was his last European game in charge of Barcelona, lamented: ‘We lost the tie in the first half in Turin. Those 45 minutes will stay with me for a long time.’
In the first half here Barcelona kicked towards the end where they worked the miracle of beating PSG 6-1, having lost the first leg 4-0. And when Juve defender Alex Sandro headed an Andres Iniesta cross clear it dropped to the author of Barca’s sixth goal against the French. This time Sergi Roberto volleyed high and wide.
When first blood was eventually drawn it was the wrong sort for Barcelona, as Messi clashed with Miralem Pjanic and fell on his face, cutting himself in the process.
Barca went into the second half needing three goals in 45 minutes against a team who had conceded only two in 865 minutes.
But even when Juventus wobbled defensively, Barca could not take advantage, such as when Buffon fumbled a Neymar corner but Messi volleyed over.
Allegri took off tiring forward Paulo Dybala and added defender Andrea Barzagli to the resistance.
Enrique had put on Paco Alcacer but Barcelona’s lack of options from the bench has been a problem all season. The coach’s next addition was Javier Mascherano — a player who has never scored for Barcelona.
Yet no one left their seat — they had seen this film before — but there was also a sense it would not have a happy ending this time. As Juve ran the clock down it was Dani Alves keeping possession high up the pitch. It had been a very happy return for him.
He was wearing a Barcelona shirt when these teams met in the 2015 final. A lot has changed since then. The Italians have gone forward, Barca have gone backwards — and out of the Champions League.