Barcelona thrash Liverpool to take control of Champions League semi-final
Barcelona thrashed Liverpool 3-0 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday to take command of their Champions League semi-final tie.
After a good start from the away side, former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance in the second half of the match, Jurgen Klopp’s team couldn’t find an equaliser. Messi scored a tap-in with a quarter of an hour remaining to make it 2-0, before scoring his 600th Barca goal with a stunning 30-yard free kick.
The result means Liverpool will need to score at least three times in the return leg at Anfield next Tuesday.
Coming into the game, the Premier League title chasers knew just how tough it would be to beat Barca in their own back yard having seen Manchester United demolished in the quarter-finals.
As well as Suarez, Philippe Coutinho was the other former Liverpool star in the opposing line up. The Brazilian carried the biggest most threat in the opening stages, with the 26-year-old’s right-foot shot well saved by Alisson.
Barca had lost just one game at home in all competitions this season that looked unlikely to change when Suarez opened the scoring after 26 minutes.
Jordia Alba’s perfect pass fed the well-timed run of the Uruguayan who snuck his way in between a sleeping Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip to prod the ball past Alisson.
Sadio Mane had a glorious chance to equalise just five minutes later. Jordan Henderson’s cross was met by the Senegalese striker inside the penalty area but his effort was wayward from a promising position.
AS IT HAPPENED: Barcelona v Liverpool
Liverpool were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half and, with less than a minute played after the restart, the experienced James Milner’s curling effort was tipped around the post by Barca goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
The away side were on top and some neat build up play was almost finished off by Mohammed Salah, but once again the German shot stopper Ter Stegen stood in the way of a Liverpool equaliser, saving down to his right, through a crowd of bodies.
Liverpool were beginning to dominate possession, much to the frustration of the Barcelona supporters. Milner sent another powerful effort straight at ter Stegen just before the hour mark when he should have scored.
But Klopp’s side were made to rue their missed opportunities. With just a quarter of an hour remaining, some soft defending allowed Suarez to fire a close-range effort at the the bar before Messi scrambled the ball into the net for his 11th Champions League goal of the season.
And it got even worse for Liverpool when Messi stepped up to strike a jaw-dropping free-kick into the top corner and seal victory with just eight minutes remaining.
Liverpool knew they needed an away goal to make up for their late capitulation.
Salah somehow struck the post when it looked easier to score after Roberto Firmino’s effort was cleared off the goal-line.
Both sides return to league action this weekend before next week’s return leg. Barca travel to Celta Vigo on Saturday with the Spanish title already wrapped up. Liverpool, locked in a tight Premier League battle with Manchester City, play Newcastle at St James’ Park on the same day.
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