Barca’s terrific trio down Arsenal to romp into UEFA Champions League Q-finals; Bayern Munich kill off Juventus in extra time

By Daily Sports on March 17, 2016

Barcelona’s dynamic attacking trio of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were too strong for Arsenal as all three scored in a 3-1 victory in Barcelona on Wednesday that sent the Spanish side into the Champions League quarterfinals 5-1 on aggregate.

Brazil’s Neymar opened the scoring in the first half as the home side dominated the early play, but Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny curled in an excellent finish to spark life into the visitors after the break.

Suarez, however, launched himself into the air to meet a Dani Alves cross and send a superb volley into the top corner to suppress a second-half revival by the English side, who have now been knocked out of the tournament in the last 16 for six successive seasons.

The mercurial Messi rounded off the scoring with a trademark chipped finish two minutes from time as the hosts extended their record-breaking unbeaten run to 38 matches in all competitions.

The defeat will increase the pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side are 11 points adrift of leaders Leicester City in the Premier League and exited the FA Cup last weekend.

“We had our chances, but we couldn’t take them,” Wenger said. “But we have to say well done to Barcelona. They have two or three players who transfer normal life into art.”

Barcelona served notice of their intent when Arsenal keeper David Ospina was forced into a superb save to deny Messi, but the reprieve was short-lived as the hosts took the lead through Neymar’s side-footed finish after 18 minutes.

Arsenal had lost possession playing out from the back, before Suarez angled a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of Neymar to slide the ball past Ospina.

Former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez fluffed the visitors’ best chance when he headed wide, but Arsenal continued to press and levelled six minutes into the second half when Elneny bent a sweet finish into the top corner from 20 metres.

Just when it looked like Arsenal might spring a surprise, however, Suarez’s acrobatics finished the tie before Messi burst into the box and lifted the ball calmly into the net to cap another superb individual display.

In the other match of the night, Bayern Munich launched a stunning four-goal fightback to beat Juventus to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the fifth season in a row.

Substitutes Thiago Alcantara and Kingsley Coman scored extra-time goals as Bayern roared back to beat Juve 4-2 in their last-16, second-leg tie and seal a 6-4 aggregate victory.

A stunned Bayern found themselves 2-0 down after 28 minutes at the Allianz Arena as Paul Pogba and Juan Cuadrado struck for the Italians before the Bavarian side floored the Italians with four unanswered goals.

But the hosts left it late as Robert Lewandowski netted on 73 minutes before Thomas Mueller’s dramatic equaliser in the 91st minute forced extra time.

Just as Juventus had fought back in Turin to draw the first leg 2-2, so Bayern came back in Munich.

Thiago put Bayern ahead for the first time on 108 minutes before fellow replacement Coman – on loan from Juventus – curled in a superb strike on 110 minutes to cap the fairytale finish. (Reuters/AFP)

•Photo shows Suarez in celebration mode.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 17, 2016


 

You may also like...
Xavi Wins First Match In Charge Of Barcelona...

Thiem crushes Nadal’s Italian Open dream

Ronaldo ‘Not Worried’ Despite Picking Up Injury

Ronaldo Back In Training For Juventus

'I won't quit' - Rooney defiant after England...

Ighalo gets N122m as Saudi Al-Hilal reach club...

 

Latest News Four Nigerian cricket coaches undergo ICC course 3SC post N6m ticket revenue from South-West derby Handball: Nigeria departs for U-18 African tourney today NSC backs Amusan, Brume-led team Nigeria for Tokyo 2025 Ikoyi Club 1938 ladies stage golf tourney for 50th anniversary Onikan to host finale as Lagos HOS Games hots up Lagos to host CDS Unity Basketball Championship Aruna storms into WTT Champions Macao last 16 NFF blasts Dessers, faults Ekong after Eagles’ draw with South Africa NOC's Women Commission Concludes National Seminar Series In Owerri World Championships: Team Nigeria depart for Tokyo today Ex-Falcons laud NFF over WAFCON bonus

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (57,832 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (49,016 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (46,997 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (46,593 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (46,586 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (46,573 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (46,391 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (45,931 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (45,049 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (43,650 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (42,087 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (41,508 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media