The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Messi magic as Barca take 2-0 lead over Gunners
Magicians are difference as Gunners rue misses
ARSENAL 0 BARCELONA 2
Lionel Messi scored twice with Barcelona’s trio of magicians ultimately making the difference as they sealed a Champions League victory at Arsenal.
The holders had plenty of possession but did not have a shot on target in the first half, only for Messi to tuck away his first real chance with 20 minutes remaining before netting a late penalty to secure a 2-0 win.
Arsenal had a couple of decent chances of their own but have it all to do in the return leg at the Nou Camp on March 16 if they are to go beyond the round of 16 for the first time since 2010.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was downcast after the loss, saying he felt his team had squandered a good chance of victory.
“The regret I have is that once we looked like we dominated the game in the last 15, 20 minutes we gave the goal away, similar to Monaco, and that is what is frustrating.
“We looked like we could win the game and we just gave it away.”
Asked about the second leg, he added: “It makes it realistically very, very difficult if not impossible but we have to go there and fight.”
Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker admitted his side got what they deserved after missing so many chances.
“When they scored first, and then especially (getting) the second, it’s tough for us but we had to score at one point here,” he said on BT Sport Europe.
“That is why we do not deserve anything.
“Obviously you will never manage to keep them quite for 90 minutes, that’s for sure, but we managed to work well in the first half with good chances.
“But we need to score and then drop back.
“Instead we took more risks and then they scored. It’s going to be much more difficult now but we never give up.
“We didn’t deserve anything because we had enough chances to score at least one.”
Asked what can be done to turn the tie around, Mertesacker said: “We have to concentrate on the Premier League and then in one month we are facing Barca again.
“We will have the same courage and same bravery. We still have a little chance, we don’t give up, we always fight. That’s our spirit.”
Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique had said ahead of the game he simply had to say “abracadabra” and his front
We still have a little chance, we don’t give up. PER MERTESACKER
three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar would weave their magic.
The trio had 91 goals between them this season leading into this game but, to Arsenal’s credit, their defence kept them quiet for long periods.
But a case of committing too many men forward, plus a rash challenge from substitute Mathieu Flamini, was all Messi needed to bag a brace to leave the Primera Division side as heavy favourites to advance to the quarterfinals.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud both had first half chances but failed to beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Barca goal.
Juventus came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich.
Goals from Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben either side of half-time looked to have put Bayern in control of the tie.
But Paulo Dybala pulled one back and substitute Stefano Sturaro equalised to ensure Juventus will go into the second leg on March 16 with optimism.