IT’S NO DEJA-NOU
Barca can’t conjure a miracle this time as battling Juve hold firm
MIRACLES rarely come in twos and so it proved, with Barcelona unable to claw back the 3-0 first-leg defeat and knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus.
Barcelona had made much of the fact all their home games in the Champions League this season had given them a result that would see them go through. But the Old Lady of Turin was not spooked.
Why would she be? With Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci immense in front of the evergreen Gianluigi Buffon, there was no way through. Barcelona could not score once, let alone three times.
There were positive early signs for Barcelona when Andres Iniesta snapped into a tackle on Paulo Dybala and Neymar skipped past Dani Alves.
Barca boss Luis Enrique had said before the game that if his team could score the first then the crowd would score the second and the third would follow. Messi almost made step one a reality on 18 minutes but he dragged his shot wide after the ball came to him in the area from Luis Suarez.
Barca were kicking towards the end where they worked the miracle comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last round, winning 6-1 at the Nou Camp after losing the away leg 4-0.
And when Juve defender Alex Sandro headed an Iniesta cross clear it dropped to the author of Barcelona’s sixth goal against the French. This time Sergi Roberto’s volley went high and wide.
Messi tested Buffon with a shot that deflected en route to goal but the 39-year-old still dealt with it. The Italian keeper was determined to retire with his proud record of not conceding a goal to Messi.
Gonzalo Higuain was denied by Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as Juve again threatened on the break.
First blood was then drawn but it was the wrong sort for Barcelona as Messi clashed with Miralem Pjanic and fell on his face, cutting himself in the process. Neymar clattered into Pjanic and was booked for the retaliation shortly before half-time.
Barca now needed three goals in 45 minutes against a team who had only conceded two in 865 minutes.
Neymar dribbled clear but sent his shot high over Buffon’s bar and Messi then did likewise.
Still the Juventus threat was clear with Juan Cuadrado twice shooting just wide.
Messi was getting closer, this time with a low shot just wide of Buffon’s far post.
And for once Suarez wriggled clear of Chiellini and won a freekick in a dangerous area. Messi took it, but it sailed over.
Even when Juve wobbled, Barca could not take advantage — Buffon fumbled a Neymar corner but Messi volleyed over.
No one left their seat. They had seen this film before, but there was also a sense that 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 Barca shirt when these teams met in the 2015 final. A lot has changed since then. The Italians have gone forwards, Barca have gone backwards — and out of the Champions League.