Barca Get Past Arsenal To Reach Quarter-finals

Messi, Neymar Suarez Strikes !00th of the season. image Source: File Pic
Messi, Neymar Suarez were on target. image Source: File Pic

Internet Desk: Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were all on target as Barcelona piled more misery on under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by easing into the Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate with a 3-1 win at the Camp Nou.

Neymar’s early strike appeared to erase any forlorn hopes of an Arsenal comeback, but the visitors were given hope when Mohamed Elneny drilled into the top corner just after half-time.

Suarez put the tie beyond Wenger’s men in emphatic fashion with a stunning volley 25 minutes from time before Messi’s cheeky chipped finish rounded off the scoring late on.

A ninth consecutive victory stretches Barca’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 38 games and seals their place in Friday’s quarter-final draw for the ninth consecutive season.

One win in eight games has decimated Arsenal’s hopes of silverware this season as they exit the competition at the last 16 stage for the sixth consecutive season days after relinquishing their two-year hold on the FA Cup.

Yet, they made a bright start with Mesut Ozil curling just wide of the target.

Barca’s front three soon came to life, though, and David Ospina made a brilliant save from Messi after the Argentine had perfectly controlled Neymar’s floated pass over the Arsenal defence. Jeremy Mathieu headed over a gilt-edged chance from the resulting corner.

Neymar wasn’t so forgiving moments later when he was played in by Suarez and coolly slotted past Ospina for his 26th goal of the season.The Brazilian then fired too close to Ospina with another fine chance after being teed up by Messi.

Yet, Arsenal should have been at least level by the break as Barca struggled to handle the visitors pace on the break without the suspended Gerard Pique.

Alexis Sanchez missed a glorious chance to net on his return to the Camp Nou when he glanced a header wide from Hector Bellerin’s cross.Danny Welbeck then sliced well wide when clean through on goal, whilst Alex Iwobi appealed in vein for a penalty after clipping his own ankles inside the box.

Courtesy – PTI