Manchester City – Barca: Messi saves Barca but missed one … – Eurosport.fr

Lionel Messi shone and led Barca to victory at Manchester City (1-2). But with a penalty miss in any end game, he missed the ball with a virtually definitive break.

         Lionel Messi did not score. He has not realized assist. But the victory of FC Barcelona with Manchester City knockout round (1-2) has relied on the talents of Argentina. Untenable, “the Pulga” was the detonator of the Catalan game. On the two goals from Luis Suarez, it was he who made the difference at first. But his high-flying performance has been tarnished by the last action at the end of extra time, with a missed penalty.
       

         By winning with a score of 1-3, the Barcelona would have been virtually assured of their passage to the quarterfinals. Except that the four Ballon d’Or stumbled on Joe Hart, before taking off with a diving header (90 + 4). He confirmed his difficulties in being effective in this phase of the game.
       

         In general, the goal was denied to him during the meeting. It was countered minute by Martin Demichelis (11th), was too short to Hart after a major bridge in the surface (36), saw Hart slam a deflected shot (77). When he shook the nets, the referees who refused him that joy for offside limit (90th).
       

Messi in check face Joe Hart at Manchester City – Barcelona – Panoramic

         That did not stop Lionel Messi splashing the game in its class. Apart from the occasion when Dani Alves hit the bar (44th), he brought all Barcelonan opportunities. On the opener, he defeated the marking to center from the right, the failed intervention of Vincent Kompany leading to the goal of Luis Suarez (16th). The second achievement of his own, he eliminated three opponents on acceleration and a fourth on the offset for Jordi Alba, decisive passer (30th). The penalty in injury time, but also Messi who got it, after a great exchange with Suarez.
       

         His technique in motion, speed with the ball, his kidney shot in small areas, the qualities that have made him the best player in the world came to light at the Etihad Stadium. The South American is definitely back to his best. Aligned with the right side of the blaugrana 4-3-3, Messi is rarely stayed eccentric. He regularly lifted, carried races towards the axis, drilled lines and created offsets.
       

         Now he puts even more of an organizing role. Less present in the penalty area, the native of Rosario remains a constant danger. When not accelerating with the ball, the Argentine was the difference in the pass. Before Suarez stumbles on Hart (26th), it was he who had eliminated David Silva a small bridge to and changed the game. When Neymar saw his lob over Hart go next door (32), it was a ball over the defense of Messi. The only time he was beaten in a duel by Gael Clichy, this led to the reduction of Mancunian score. But on 90 minutes, “Chip” is elusive.