Messi, Neymar, Suarez Lead Barca 3-1 over PSG
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all scored to lead Barcelona to a thrilling 3-1 comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, as the Spanish club snatched first place in Group F of the Champions League from the French side.
Messi canceled out Zlatan Ibrahimovic's opener by scoring from a cross by Suarez in the 19th minute, taking his competition record to 75 goals.
With both sides already qualified for the last 16, they traded chances in a free-flowing first half before Neymar tilted the game in the hosts favor by netting with a spectacular long-distance drive three minutes from halftime.
Suarez tapped in Neymar's rebound to seal the victory in the 77th.
The first standout performance by Barcelona's trio of star strikers came against the only side to have beaten it in Europe this season, and ensured the Catalan club finished top of its group for an eighth consecutive year.
All three of Barcelona's scorers shone, but Suarez was the one in need of a good outing. Despite playing well, the Uruguay international has struggled to score since returning from a four-month ban for biting. He celebrated his second goal in nine games for Barcelona with relish, sliding on his knees and pumping his fists.
"We will be at home in the second leg of the round of 16 and we know that as Barcelona you always have to try and finish top," said Suarez. "We have improved as a group a lot. We know that together we can go places, and that's what we're doing."
PSG only needed a draw to go through as group winners and theoretically get a more favorable draw, but Barcelona instead avenged its September loss in Paris by dealing the French champions their first defeat in their 23rd game of the season.
PSG made the elegant opening goal look nonchalant, as Blaise Matuidi received the ball with his back to the net and used one touch to knock Lucas' pass back for Ibrahimovic to sweep the ball in with his left foot in the 15th minute.
Barcelona responded in similar fashion. Javier Mascherano picked out Suarez's run to the goalline, and the fellow ex-Liverpool player knocked a pass across the goal where Messi raced in to smash in the equalizer.
Barcelona turned to Neymar's individual skill to take control.
Mascherano won the ball in midfield and quickly passed it to Neymar, who did the rest by surging forward before unleashing a right-foot strike that bent around outstretched goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.
"The best players don't need much to convert a tiny chance into a goal," PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. "That is what happened in Barcelona's first two goals."
Also in Group F, Ajax routed APOEL 4-0 to finish third and secure a place in the Europa League.
Source: Associated Press
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