Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners as they drew first blood in thier Champions League Semi-final fixture thanks to goal from Luis Suarez and a brace from Lionel Messi.
The game started in heated fashion with end to end attacking football from bothsides. Barcelona trying to hit Liverpool from start to support their TIFO claim of them wanting to “Colour football in Europe”, While Liverpool fighting back as if to say “you can’t colour Europe at our expense.
Due to how tensed the match had turned out to be, Liverpool lost one of their warriors prematurely. Keita had suffered a serious injury due to a rough tackle by Ivan Rakitic.
Suarez breaks the deadlock:
In the 26th minute, Uruguayan forward, Luis Surez showed great striker’s instinct to break the deadlock for Barcelona.
A long tailored pass was sent to the far left from Vidal to Coutinho, who controlled and passed to Jordi Alba, the left back sent in a low in-swinger that found a running Suarez who threw in his leg on the ball to beat Alisson Becker in goal.
Luis Suarez caught Matip and Van Dijk napping, as he ran inbetween them to score past Allison.
Saido Mane had the chance to grab an equalizer for Liverpool, but he failed to Match Suarez’s feat. Substitute, Henderson had sent in a pass through to Mane who beat Barca’s defense with speed, but he failed to keep his shot low as it went over the bar.
Both teams retreated back to the tunnel for half time, with home side, Barcelona holding the edge.
Second half resumed with Liverpool pumped and firing, as they forced Ter Stegan into making two incredible saves.
First, it was Milner that was denied by the German, just 2 minutes into the half. He then stopped Mohammed Salah’s low strike and the second attempt by Milner, minutes later. Liverpool were beginning to gain momentum and keeping Barcelona’s defense on their toes.
Soon after, the possession exchanged hands as Barcelona seemed to have woken up from their little slumber.
In the 75th minute, Messi doubled Barcelona’s lead.
The Argentine has now managed to score against every English opposition he has faced.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man:
Liverpool’s defense successfully shut out Lionel Messi in the first half, but achieving the same feat in the second half was always going to be an uphill task for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Barcelona won a freekick in the 74th minute, Lionel Messi stood before the ball and curled in an inch perfect freekick past Allison Becker to put the game (and possibly the tie) to bed.
Liverpool have been outplayed and outclassed by Messi’s second half magic.
The Barcelona captain recorded his 12th goal of the Champions League campaign.
Mohammed Salah stinker:
Nine minutes after Messi’s freekick goal, Liverpool were offered their best chance of the game to get an away goal.
Saido Mane had initiated a counter attack through the Barça defence, he was eventually impeded and the ball fell to second half substitute, Firmino, who saw his shot towards goal stopped by two Barca defenders on the line. The rebound however, fell towards Mohammed Salah, but the Liverpool top scorer somehow managed to only hit the woodwork.
3-0 it ended in Camp Nou, as Barcelona looked to have secured an emphatic first leg victory.