LIONEL MESSI FINISHED off a superb Dani Alves pass to put Barcelona 1-0 up against Paris Saint Germain at half-time in their Champions League clash.
PSG made most of the running in the opening 30 minutes but Barca’s passing game came to the fore in the closing stages of the half. The French side never gave up, however, and earned a 2-2 draw.
Chance of the half previously went to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was denied by a smart Victor Valdes saves, before Messi stepped up to smash home the opener.
“Paris played really well,” said Roy Keane at half-time on ITV. “One lapse in concentration and the great man punishes them.”
Watch the goal here:
YouTube credit: UCLHighlights2013
Unfortunately for Barcelona, Messi has tweaked his hamstring and hobbled about for the final five minutes of the half and was replaced by Cesc Fabregas for the second 45.
PSG pressed for parity and it came on 78 minutes, courtesy of this offside goal from Ibrahiovic:
YouTube credit: GAMEWALKHD
In the final minutes of the game, PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu was lucky not to be red-carded for needlessly bringing down Alexis Sanchez in the box.
With Messi off the pitch, Xavi stepped up and rolled home a neat penalty:
YouTube credit: TheFakeUA
With the two-legged tie looking over before the return match at the Nou Camp, a deflected goal gave the Parisians hope.
Blaise Matuidi struck the ball sweetly from outside the box but it hit a Barca leg en-route and fooled Valdes to make it 2-2:
YouTube credit: MultiSoccerFootball
