Paris St Germain hosted FC Barcelona for their Group F match & won 3 - 2 in a fantastic game of European Football. Barça lost its goal-defensive "virginity" this season receiving 3 goals & notching up its first official defeat. Barça Coach Luis Enrique started with the following players:
Ter Stegen; Alves, Mascherano, Mathieu, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi & Neymar
As you can see goalie Claudio Bravo & Gerard Pique were on the bench, with some Football observers already out of the box with criticisms concerning the continual line-up changes that are being applied game after game.
In any case, it was a relatively even & a see-saw match. PSG put in a marvellous effort in the midfield with Motta shining & Lucas Moura outstanding. On the other hand Barça made too many mistakes tonight with their passing & continual loss of balls in the midfield which cost them dearly in the end. Barça defender Dani Alves will be blamed tonight for a poor performance, while his defending team-mates - Mascherano, Mathieu & Alba - will also receive some local flack for their disorganization. Even the Barça goalie tonight Ter Stegen will be analysed for his part - or non part - in the second PSG goal .
The match goals came in the following order:
- David Luiz 10th min, 1 - 0
- Messi 12th min , 1 - 1
- Verratti 27th min, 2 - 1
- Matuidi 52nd min , 3 - 1
- Neymar 56th min, 3 - 2
It was however admirable to see how Barça reacted almost immediately to pull the score back each time, but the French were better organized & more focused on what needed to be done.
Barça came real close to equalizing in the final part of the match with PSG defender Marquinhos blocking a Jordi Alba shot, young Munir hitting the post & Sandro missing a clear opportunity.
Good & deserved victory for PSG & Barça to fly home to the expected criticisms that make the Football circus go round.
Disaster for Athletic Club Bilbao losing 2 - 1 to Bate Borisov in their Group H game. The loss puts things uphill for Bilbao to be able to qualify out of the Group phase.
The starting 11 for Bilbao was:
Iraizoz; Iraola, San José, Laporte, Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Beñat, Rico; Ibai, Muniain & Aduriz.
Notable absences were De Marcos & Susaeta who were left on the bench. Here too Bilbao Coach Valverde - as with FC Barcelona Coach Luis Enrique - will receive local criticisms & flake over the line-up.
However, Bilbao played badly & was chaotic. Bate scored two goal in the first half, Polyakov in the 19th min & Kaarnitskiy in the 41st min. Too many midfield mistakes from Bilbao, especially Iturraspe who had terrible game. The Bilbao 41st min goal from Aduriz gave some hope but the Spanish Team failed to convert their gained opportunities in the second half.
Tomorrow more UEFA Champions League action with Spanish Football Clubs Real Madrid & Atletico de Madrid in action.
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