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Barca snap PSG's unbeaten streak to close in on Champions League semis

Xinhua, April 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Barcelona have closed in on UEFA Champions League semifinals after beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 on Wednesday to snap the Ligue 1 champions' 33-game unbeaten run at home in Europe.

The first-leg encounter of UCL quarterfinals saw Neymar and Luis Suarez on target while Gregory van der Wiel later deducing the deficit for the hosts at the Parc des Princes.

Neymar opened the scoring on 18 minutes, when the Brazilian sensation netted from close range after latching onto a Lionel Messi pass following a quick counter attack.

Suarez doubled the advantage in the 67th minute after dribbing through the David Luiz and shrugging off two other defenders to power in the box before scoring.

The Uruguayan striker put the hosts in deeper trouble when he repeated the breakthrough routine and kicked the ball into the top corner with 11 minutes remaining.

PSG pulled one back just three minutes later as Van der Wiel's shot was deflected in off Jeremy Mathieu.

It has been the first loss of Les Parisiens at home in Europe since 2006.

With PSG captain Thiago Silva not feeling good after 21 minutes into the game, Laurent Blanc sent in David Luiz, who sustained a ahamstring injury just 10 days ago and was formerly expected out for a month.

The Brazilian central back endured a difficult match, and Blanc admitted that he's not 100% fit.

"The injury to Thiago Silva was the start of our problems," said Blanc after the match. "We had to replace him with a player who was not 100% fit."

PSG had to host Barcelona without their top scorer of this season Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was suspended after picking up a red card in the last-16 second leg at Chelsea.

Injured Thiago Motta and the suspended Marco Verratti were also missing from the Ligue 1 champions' squad for the UCL quarterfinal.

The return leg will be at the Nou Camp next Tuesday. Endi