When does four minus two equal four? Today.
The UEFA Champions League semifinals are set after Wednesday’s second two quarterfinal matches, with Barcelona joining its bitter rival Real Madrid and Bayern Munich taking its place alongside its Bundesliga neighbor Borussia Dortmund.
Barcelona advanced with a 1-1 tie against Paris St.-Germain, rallying behind a second-half substitute you’ve probably heard of: Lionel Messi. Left out of the starting lineup because of a hamstring injury and clearly playing at less than full speed, Messi used his mere presence to awaken the crowd and his team, which had fallen behind on Javier Pastore’s goal in the 50th minute. With a wary P.S.G. keeping a close eye on his every move, Messi dropped back and turned playmaker instead of scorer: he led David Villa into the area in the 71st minute, and Villa laid the ball off for Pedro to rocket in the tying goal.
Pedro’s goal pulled Barcelona even on aggregate, 3-3, but it meant the Catalans advanced on the away goals rule.
Bayern Munich posted its second straight 2-0 victory over the Italian champion Juventus, going ahead on Mario Mandzukic’s goal in the 64th minute and putting a bow on its win when the substitute Claudio Pizarro slotted home a shot in the first minute of second-half added time. Bayern, beaten on penalties in last year’s final in Munich, had scored in the first minute of the first leg and seemed destined to advance since then. It played cautiously but effectively, as it has throughout the competition — seemingly driven to atone for last year’s disappointment.
So now it’s Spain vs. Germany. Or Germany vs. Germany and Spain vs. Spain. But who cares really? Regardless of how the teams are matched in Friday’s draw, one thing should be clear: the best four teams in Europe will decide who is first among equals.
Continue reading to follow the games as they happened.
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WRAPSemifinalists set, and Oh the possibilities ...
The semifinals are April 23-24, with the return legs on April 30 and May 1. That gives Messi about two weeks to heal that hamstring. For the good of the game — well, that and our selfish pleasure — let’s hope he’s at full strength by then. It’s going to be quite a show.
Real Madrid. Barcelona. Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund.
The possibilities are great: a German semifinal and a Spanish one, with the winners squaring off in London? Or how about a Clasico of all Clasicos — Real vs. Barcelona at Wembley? Or is it destiny time for Dortmund, who on thrillingly on Tuesday, and Bayern, seeking revenge for last season’s loss in the final?
I can’t wait. Bet you can’t either.
FT IN TURINBayern wins 2-0 again; 4-0 aggregate
Bayern was clearly better in the first leg and, while not as good, a 2-0 winner again in the second. This one was never really in doubt.
FT IN BARCELONAMessi makes the difference: Barcelona is through
The whistle goes and Barcelona is through to the quarterfinals with a 1-1 tie. Messi was clearly not at full strength, but just his mere presence seemed to change everything. And it was his pass that led to Pedro’s goal, the one that sends them through on away goals since the aggregate was tied, 3-3.
90 + 1'GOOOALL! Pizarro makes it 2-0 for Bayern
Another great through ball from Schweinsteiger, and Pizarro pokes it under Buffon. Easy. As. Pie.
They’re just so good.
90'Yellow for Beckham; probably for marketing purposes
Or just to get his name in another book.
87'Outrageous stuff from Iniesta
He just did a 270-degree turn in the box to get free but sent his shot into the side netting.
Barcelona’s possession and ability to draw fouls really show up in spots like this. Teams who need the ball back just can’t get it back from them in the final minutes of games.
It should be noted, too, that Messi isn’t even asking for it now. He’s just sitting down in the center and playing traffic cop — signaling where to send the ball. Just not asking for it. Ever.
86'Yellow for Thiago Silva, fouling Messi
He too will miss the next match, whenever that is.
84'Villa off; Song on
Defense for offense. Barcelona shutting it down now.
Hopefully.
83'And now Beckham is on too
Beckham, 37, replaces Verratti, 20, for the final 10 minutes or so. Now if P.S.G. can just win a free kick, then stop time and take us back to 1999, they’ll be in business.
82'Gamerio for Lavezzi; watch him closely
He’s been great every time I’ve seen him in the past month: instant danger.
80'Yellow for Lavezzi; he misses next match
He clips Jordi Alba, and now he’ll miss the next match. Which, for P.S.G., appears to be one in next year’s Champions League.
78'Did Messi create that goal just by coming on?
By that I mean, did P.S.G. shift its focus to him — the smart thing to do — in such a way that they left Villa and Pedro the space they needed to turn Messi’s pass into a goal? That would really be the true mark of the world’s best player, that even at three-quarters speed — and there is no usual burst in his stride today — he can alter a game just by entering it.
71'GOAAALLL!!! Barcelona ties it through Pedro, 1-1!
Messi started that all (he is Superman!!!) by splitting two defenders at the top and feeding Villa at the spot.
Cornered, he has the good sense to lay it off into the path of Pedro and he rockets it into the right corner.
All tied up, 1-1 today and 3-3 on aggregate, but now it’s Barcelona who’s going through.
64'GOOOALL! Mandzukic puts Bayern up, 1-0
Javi Martinez stabs a ball from Schweinsteiger at Buffon from in close. His parry goes right Mandzukic, and he nods it into the open net. Bayern up 1-0.
That goal probably puts Bayern through (it’s 3-0 on aggregate now) to a semifinal that Mandzukic will miss because of that early yellow today.
Matri immediately comes on for Quagliarella. One striker for another. Hmmm.
62'Messi on for Fabregas; "Save us!" they scream
Bartra also on for Adriano, but no one seems to notice, or care.
“Save us!” they all seem to be shouting. It’s not really fair to expect an injured player to do everything, but then fans aren’t always rational, especially about Messi.
60'Adriano is down and Bartra is up
Barca will be a man down for Ibra’s free kick from 30, but Valdes corrals it easily.
With an hour gone, you can feel the panic starting to build in the crowd at the Camp Nou. This would be highly unacceptable. But if they really can’t figure out what to do without Messi to save them, then they’re not really championship material, are they?
57'Robben of the post!
From the top of the circle, Robben unleashes a left-footer that nearly settles things. Dinnnnnggg! Off the left post beyond a beaten Buffon.
54'Messi is warming up at the Camp Nou
That brings the crowd to life. Well, that and the prospect that — at this moment — they’re going out if someone doesn’t score for them.
50'GOOAALL: Pastore scores for PSG -- 1-0!
That was always coming. Pastore exchanges passes with Ibra in the center circle and then he’s off. Runs right past Dani Alves, and then lifts it over Valdes.
What an immense goal that is — they’re up 3-2 on aggregate, and they’ve got one of the away goals back.
47'Yeah, that's not going to work
His free kick pings off the wall, a teammate and a Bayern player before rolling harmlessly toward the giant Neuer.
46'Back under way
They’re about a minute ahead in Barcelona.
HTEven the flags go limp in Turin
After yesterday’s show at Dortmund, the two meekly waving flags at Juventus make that look like a pretty impotent home field advantage. It’s as if they know …
HT IN TURINJuventus ends the half with a corner; 0-0 at half
Bayern looks to be the better team in Turin, which seems about fair, since, well, they are. Just the vibe you get, that they’re going to score eventually. And that’s bad for Juve, since a single Bayern goal will leave them needing four. And I don’t think there’s any way they’re getting four today.
HT IN BARCELONAMessi pacing in the dugout
As Iniesta curls a ball just out of reach for Xavi, the camera cuts to Messi looking anxious in the dugout. this must be excruciating for him.
Halftime in Barcelona. No score.
42'Yellow for Adriano; Misses next match
A late clumsy challenge by Adriano earns him a yellow and gives PSG a dangerous free kick from about 22 yards. Ibra fires it into the wall.
3:22 P.M.Inevitabilty is a strange thing
There are games when Barcelona are so good, when they seem to do what they want with possession, but you still wonder if they’ll ever score.
But whenever you watch Bayern, you just KNOW they’re going to score. You’re just waiting for it to come.
36'Bayern change: Van Buyten off; Boateng on
That nose problem, incurred in an early challenge, is too much for him.
33'Tweets you never thought you'd see II
32'Tweets you never thought you'd see
28'Lucas Moura almost makes it 1-0!
Lots of P.S.G. right now — Lavezzi a minute ago and now Ibra tracks down a ball and crosses in front for Lucas Moura, whose header is parried by Valdes
On the ensuing corner, Alex forces another diving save.
This is really where Barca is vulnerable: since they seem to be smaller man for man. Pique has to go with either Ibra or Alex every time, but they look really small everywhere else.
23'Pirlo goes close
A dumb foul by Lahm — nearly a penalty — gives Pirlo a free kick just outside the box, and Neuer is forced to parry it over.
In Barcelona, Lavezzi gets free down the middle again, but Valdes goes down to block him at the last moment.
21'Pedro into the side netting
A quick dash down the left and a driven low cross force Sirigu to parry it out in front. It then glances back to Pedro, and his side-footed shot slams into side netting.
22'Trouble at the back for Bayern
18'Possession for Juve, chances for Bayern
Juventus off to a much better start than last week, but Bayern has been the most dangerous. They come forward, especially on counters and set pieces out high, like a red wave.
An away would most likely finish Juve, so they need to be very careful with their marking on dead balls.
14'Yellow for Bonucci
So that’s 1-1 in yellows from the Spanish official so far.
12'Daring from Iniesta
Grabbing possession in midfield, Iniesta glances up and see Sirigu off his line. So why not? He tries to chip him from the center circle … and barely misses high.
8'Early yellow for Mandzukic
Tough foul on Chiellini, and that’s really an unneccesary one, since he’s now banned for a potential semifinal.
The Fox crew points out the referee is from Madrid, hinting at something sinister when there’s no proof, and then quickly backtracking.
4'Promising start for P.S.G.
Lavezzi splits the defense but fumbles a weak touch toward Valdes, who clears easily.
But Barca comes back and wins a free kick in the same spot at the earlier one. Same thing coming?
3'Clumsy skill from Juve
Chiellini juggles his way into Bayern’s area and then promptly shows why he’s a defender by giving the ball away.
1'Fabregas wins a dangerous free kick
Fabregas clipped out front and falls fantastically. Xavi whips a free kick around the left post and fully half of the Camp Nou thinks it went in.
It didn’t.
2:44 P.M.Here they come out of the tunnel
Bayern and Juve are out first. Juve in its zebra stripes and Bayern in red, if you want to imagine them as you read along.
Barcelona trades its sherbert from Paris for the traditional red and blue. P.S.G. in white.
Annnnd we’re under way.
2:16 P.M.Today's Champions League referees
A Dutch crew, headed by the referee Bjorn Kuipers, will be in charge at the Camp Nou. Wonder if he grew up idolizing Johan Cruyff?
In Italy, the officials will be Spanish. The referee is Carlos Velasco Carballo.
2:12 P.M.For Barcelona, a trend for every opinion
The glass-half-full view: Barcelona has lost only once at home this season, to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey in February, and it is undefeated in 20 Champions League home matches – winning 16 – since a 2-1 loss against Rubin Kazan in October 2009.
The glass-half-empty view: Barcelona had conceded at least one goal in its last 13 games in all competitions, and its defense is thinner than usual.
2:02 P.M.Some More Lineup Housekeeping for Barca-PSG
Here are the subs and yellow-card situation for Barcelona-P.S.G.:
Barcelona: Pinto, Bartra, Montoya, Thiago Alcantara, Song, Alexis, Messi.
P.S.G.: Douchez, Sakho, Armand, Van der Wiel, Chantome Beckham Gameiro
Barcelona’s Jordi Alba, Adriano, Alex Song and Gerard Piqué’s face suspensions for their next yellow card. The same is true for P.S.G.’s Ezequiel Lavezzi and Thiago Silva.
1:58 P.M.Lineups for that other game: Bayern vs. Juventus
There’s another game today if you don’t fancy so many Thiagos. Bayern takes its 2-0 lead to Turin to face Juventus.
The starters there:
Bayern: Neuer; Lahm, van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery, Mandzukic
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Padoin, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Vucinic, Quagliarella
1:52 P.M.P.S.G. Lineup Has Thiago Motta for Suspended Matuidi
Carlo Ancelotti leaves David Beckham on the bench after starting him in the first leg, going with the more lively legs of the Italian Marco Verratti. Good call in my opinion, since I can’t recall Beckham even playing in the first leg he was so invisible at time.
Also, Thiago Motta makes a rare appearance, replacing the suspended Blaise Matuidi. This gives the visitors a clear advantage in Thiagos, as Barcelona has only one it can use — Thiago Alcantara — and it’s left him on the bench.
The P.S.G. starters:
Sirigu; Jallet, Alex, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Lucas, Verratti, Thiago Motta, Pastore; Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic.
1:48 P.M.Lineups Are Out, and So Is Messi
Well the question of the day has been answered: Lionel Messi is not fit to start for Barcelona at the Camp Nou, but he will be on the bench, sore hamstring and all. That said, if he’s not healthy enough to start, one wonders if he’s capable of playing at all, right? And if he should, right?
Anyway, the plucky Catalans have cobbled together a team of street urchins and scarf vendors to do battle with the visitors from Paris:
Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Adriano, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Fabregas, Villa.
So, well, let’s not cry too hard for them.
1:47 P.M.Preview (reposted)
Wednesday’s games will kick off simultaneously at 2:45 p.m. Eastern, which — as usual — is just a pain for viewers who wouldn’t mind watching both games. (Note to UEFA: Learn a little something from the N.C.A.A. tournament and the N.F.L. playoffs and stagger your starts, especially since neither result affects the other. The global viewing audience and I thank you.)
To stall until game time, a quick lookahead (for those who spent the past 10 days on the moon, P.S.G. and Barcelona tied in the first leg, 2-2, in Paris, and Bayern Munich won at home, 2-0, over Juventus):
Barcelona should be favored against P.S.G., what with two away goals in the bag and the power of a packed Camp Nou crowd filling its sails. But not by a lot, and probably by even less if the lineups are announced and Lionel Messi isn’t in Barca’s. Messi, who left the first leg at halftime after injuring his hamstring, is remarkably durable for a little guy who gets kicked around by larger men for a living. But even though he practiced Tuesday and the teamsounded hopeful he would play, a hamstring is kind of a valuable tool for a soccer player, and you really need two good ones to do what Messi does. Plus, let’s be honest: Barcelona meandered a bit after losing him in Paris. “We have a better chance if Messi doesn’t play,” P.S.G. Manager Carlo Ancelotti said in the biggest understatement in soccer history, “but it won’t change our strategy.” And why should it? That strategy almost worked at home, when counterattacks led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi and Lucas Moura tormented Barcelona’s soft spot, its back four and goalkeeper Victor Valdes. And Messi isn’t Barcelona’s only lineup concern: Pedro and Adriano also face Wednesday fitness tests, Javier Mascherano is hurt and suspended, and Carles Puyol is still out with a knee injury. The French defender Eric Abidal has been included in Barcelona’s roster only days after playing his first game since his liver transplant last April. Seeing him take the field could be a special moment, but it probably wouldn’t be a good sign for Barcelona if it had to go that deep into its bench for a game of this magnitude.
Bayern Munich has been to two of the past three Champions League finals, and a third in four years seemed a realistic possibility from the opening minute of its 2-0 victory in the first leg. Yes, David Alaba’s goal went in with the help of a deflection after only 25 seconds, but the fact that the Germans were the better team that day was never in dispute. With the Bundesliga title theirs as of Saturday, Bayern Munich can now focus on the goal that has driven them since losing the final at home last spring: winning the Champions League title. It would take a brave fan to bet against them now. Juventus has not been to the semifinals in 10 years, and it didn’t make a return any more likely by being rolled in Munich last week. “I’m convinced that the difference between us and Bayern is not as big as it appeared in the first leg,” Manager Antonio Conte said, and he better be right. An early goal would be a huge help ion making a game of it, and Juve’s deficit is not nearly as daunting as Galatasaray’s, and we all saw how that went Tuesday. But Juventus will have to overcome it without help from Stephan Lichtsteiner and Arturo Vidal (who are suspended) and the shaven-headed microwave Sebastian Giovinco, who injured his knee in Sunday’s win against Pescara. Juventus diehards will note that the club is 5-0 in European quarterfinals against German clubs, which is a historical lifeline to cling to, but they’ll also conveniently ignore the fact that the Bianconeri were unbeaten in European road games for three years until they went to Munich last week.
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