Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1489015952

Barcelona vs PSG as it happened: Luis Enrique's men defy history to reach Champions League quarter-finals

Re-live all the action from the Nou Camp

Samuel Lovett
Wednesday 08 March 2017 21:00 GMT
Comments

Barcelona suffered an emphatic 4-0 defeat in Paris two weeks ago but outgoing coach Luis Enrique is confident his side can “score six” to advance in what would be the most remarkable second-leg comeback in the history of the competition.

No team has ever overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit and Paris Saint-Germain won’t give up their advantage easily at the Camp Nou.

Barca have been off the pace this season, leading to Enrique to confirm he would leave at the end of the season, but they were back to their best on the weekend, scoring five goals against Celta Vigo – the amount that is required on Wednesday night.

Follow live coverage below...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

Vital Information…

The game kicks off at 7.45pm on Wednesday 8 March. BT Sport 2 will be providing coverage.

Form Guide…

Barcelona: WLWWWW

PSG: WWDWWW

Team news…

Barcelona have new injury worries for what could be Enrique’s final Champions League as their manager, with only defenders Jeremy Mathieu and Aleix Vidal remaining sidelined.

PSG have received a triple boost ahead of the game with midfielders Adrien Rabiot, Angel Di Maria and Thiago Motta all available and have travelled to Barcelona after recovering from their respective injuries.

Player to watch…

Lionel Messi. There are goals that need to be scored for Barcelona and Messi will be the centre of everything on Wednesday evening. Luis Suarez and Neymar will work off him but with the hosts needing at least four goals to take the game to extra time, you can be sure Messi will be in full attacking flow to ensure it happens.

Lionel Messi in action for Barcelona (Getty)

Best stat…

Barcelona have progressed past the round of 16 in each of the last nine seasons, the longest run ever in the competition. The last time they failed to reach the quarter-finals was in 2006-07 against Liverpool.

Odds…

Barcelona to win: 8/15

PSG to win: 19/5

Draw: 19/5

1489003212

12 min: PSG corner on the right that's whipped in to the near post. Cavani darts to meet it and successfully flicks it on but his team-mates fail to capitalise on the opportunity and the ball is quickly booted away for another corner-kick.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:00
1489003329

14 min: Messi embarks on another of his dangerous runs down the centre of the park, with Suarez ahead of him on the right. The Argentine was poised to release his team-mate in behind the PSG defence but Draxler intervened, putting in a careless foot to bring the Barca star tumbling down to earth. Barca free-kick. Draxler yellow card.

Up steps Messi... but it's wide! He sought to pick out the top right corner with a well-struck kick but the accuracy was missing and the ball ended up sailing into the crowd behind.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:02
1489003496

16 min: Sergio Busquets brings down Lucas in a dangerous area inside his own final third, conceding a free-kick in the process. Lucas delivers from the right but the flag goes up for off-side. Barca breathe a sigh of relief.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:04
1489003586

18 min: Chance for Barcelona! Having picked up the ball on the left flank, Neymar cut inwards with pace, losing his man in the process, before releasing a firecracker of a shot on goal from 25-odd yards out. It looked promising but wasn't to be. Nonetheless, it's all Barca still.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:06
1489003848

22 min: Deary me. Barca had built up play nicely towards the edge of PSG's box before Busquets let loose with a wild dink over the top that ended up rolling out for a goal-kick. He'd clearly sought to play Suarez in behind but put too much weight on his pass. He's looked a bit nervy at times tonight and needs to settle down.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:10
1489003903

24 min: Yellow for Pique. The defender came storming into the back of Cavani who was sent flying on the half-way line. No question that was the right call from the ref. Needless challenge.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:11
1489003954

25 min: Possession so far...

Barcelona - 62%

PSG - 38%

It's all Barca but the visitors have started to settle into the game...

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:12
1489004078

26 min: Kurzawa with a reckless challenge this time, but in a much more dangerous position. He cuts Rafinha down on the right who had succeeded in getting away from the left-back. Messi steps up again to deliver but his free-kick effort is fired straight into a wall of white shirts.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:14
1489004183

28 min: Iniesta tries his luck with an ambitious 25-yard shot but he struggles to keep his effort down as the ball sails over the crossbar for a free-kick.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:16
1489004422

31 min: A sloppy miss-pass from Rakitic inside his own final third is pounced on by Lucas who immediately sets a course for the Barcelona goal. He's got options to his right but goes for the shot instead... it's a tame effort and Ter Stegen claims with ease. A warning sign for the hosts though.

Samuel Lovett8 March 2017 20:20

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in