Lionel Messi Scores Brace For Barcelona To Dent Gunners’ Champions League Hopes In Last 16

Messi celebrating with Suarez his goal. Image Source: File Pic
Messi celebrating with Suarez his goal. Image Source: File Pic

Internet Desk: Lionel Messi’s brace secured an almost decisive first-leg advantage for Barcelona as the defending champions beat Arsenal 2-0 in an absorbing Champions League last-16 clash.

Messi and his forward colleagues Neymar and Luis Suarez headed to Emirates Stadium with 91 goals between them this season, but were initially missed opportunities by an Arsenal side playing with impressive discipline and intensity.

The Gunners looked ultra defensive in the first half while the Catalans kept on increasing their possession as it was 70-30 in favour of the Catalans in the first half.

The Catalans didn’t dominate the game in their typical manner but did enjoy 68 percent of possession, created 15 goal-scoring chances and attempted eight shots, four of them on target and one to the post.

Spurred by their passionate home crowd, Arsenal piled on the pressure from the kick-off. With the Blaugranas unable to impose their usually fluid rhythm, the Gunners grew in confidence as the game developed and deservedly created the better chances in the first half.

Fortunately, Barça took a step forward after the break and piled up continuous pressure in the hosts’ defensive third. Despite Arsenal’s determined defending, a moment of brilliance from their world-class attacking front-line unbalanced a game that had been far too close to call until that point. With the hosts chasing a much-needed equaliser, a hard challenge in the hosts’ penalty area enabled Messi to score a crucial second goal that leaves Arsene Wenger’s side with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

Barça didn’t deliver a vintage performance by any means but the effectiveness of their world-class attacking trident was enough to extend their unbeaten run to a record 33 matches. It also meant that they are the clear favorites to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Juventus and Bayern Munich share points at Torino. Juventus recovered from 0-2 deficit to a 2-2 to secure a 2-2 draw with Bayern in a see-saw first-leg of their last-16.

The visitors looked to be coasting to a fourth straight win over their Italian opponents when they went two goals up, Thomas Muller getting the first of them on 43 minutes when converting a cutback from Douglas Costa.

A curling strike from Arjen Robben 10 minutes after the break was no more than Bayern deserved for their dominance.

Yet Juventus produced a dramatic recovery in the final half-hour, starting with Dybala halving the deficit with a cool finish following a defensive mistake by the German side.

The comeback was complete when substitute Sturaro scored just seven minutes after coming on, the midfielder turning home fellow replacement Alvaro Morata’s header across the face of goal.