PSG vs Barcelona match report: Brilliant Luis Suarez puts Barca in commanding position despite late Jeremy Mathieu own goal

Paris Saint-Germain 1 Barcelona 3

(Getty Images)

Barcelona took a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a resounding 3-1 victory over Paris St Germain in Wednesday's quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.

Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi combined to set up Neymar for a slick opener in the 18th minute, and Luis Suarez added two brilliant strikes in the second half to seemingly seal matters.

Gregory van der Wiel's effort was deflected past Marc-Andre ter Stegen by Barca substitute Jeremy Mathieu to give PSG some hope late on, but Laurent Blanc's side have it all to do in next Tuesday's second leg at the Nou Camp.

PSG had the first sight of goal in the eighth minute and Blaise Matuidi's low cross from the left looked perfect for Javier Pastore, but the ball hit the Argentinian's standing foot as he attempted to shoot and the danger was averted.

The visitors went close five minutes later when Suarez found Messi on the edge of the box. The Argentina captain made room to bend a fine left-footed effort goalwards, but saw it come back off Salvatore Sirigu's left post.

Barca did not have to wait too much longer to open the scoring, however, as a swift break culminated in Messi playing a neat pass to Neymar, who took a touch to steady himself and then slotted calmly past Sirigu.

David Luiz made a surprise appearance from the bench in the 21st minute after his Brazil team-mate Thiago Silva sustained an injury. Blanc had said on April 7 that Luiz was likely to face four weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.

Neymar puts Barcelona in front (Getty Images)

Luiz was dispossessed by Suarez three minutes before half-time on the left side of the PSG box, but Sirigu spared the centre-back's blushes.

Pastore warmed the gloves of Ter Stegen with a long-range attempt at the start of the second half, but the Barcelona goalkeeper was not unduly troubled.

PSG, without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were struggling to test the Catalan giants, and found themselves two goals down midway through the second half thanks to Suarez's virtuoso effort.

The Uruguay frontman received the ball on the right, cut inside Luiz, held off Marquinhos and Maxwell and then beat Sirigu at his near post, the PSG keeper getting his left hand to the ball but unable to prevent it nestling in the bottom-right corner.

Luis Suarez scores Barcelona's second (Getty Images)

Edinson Cavani went close to pulling a goal back moments later with a fierce volley, but it was parried away for a corner by Ter Stegen.

Messi then almost added a magical third 17 minutes from time with a typically mazy run to the edge of the box, but for once was let down by a wayward finish.

Barca's third goal did arrive in the 79th minute, Suarez nutmegging Luiz to race free and despatching a superb curling shot beyond a stunned Sirigu.

Suarez nutmegged David Luiz twice in the build up to both his goals (Getty Images)

The home fans had something to cheer about three minutes later when Jordi Alba's defensive header was blasted straight back into the danger area by Van der Wiel, with Mathieu's intervention sending it past a helpless Ter Stegen.

PSG could have reduced the arrears further soon after but Adriano's presence did enough to put off Pastore and Cavani's shot was well blocked by a sliding Mathieu.