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Barca beat Arsenal to reach last 8 in Champions League

Xinhua, March 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

C Barcelona's 'terrible trio' of Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar score one goal each to give the reigning European Champions a 3-1 win on the night and a 5-1 aggregate win over Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The win means Barca have reached the last eight of the competition for the last 9 years, while Arsenal have fallen at the last 16 stage for every year since the 2010-11 season.

Barcelona fielded their strongest available side with Jeremy Mathieu in for the suspended Gerard Pique, while Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger surprisingly included 19-year-old midfielder Alex Iwobi in his side along with Egyptian, Mohamed Elneny.

Leo Messi had already given Arsenal a warning on 16 minutes when he took Neymar's deep pass before drawing a miraculous save from David Ospina, but the Colombian goalkeeper could do nothing two minutes later when Neymar opened the scoring.

Luis Suarez gave a diagonal pass which allowed the Brazilian to get in behind the Arsenal defense and make the aggregate score 3-0 with a low finish.

Barca had the control of the ball and although Arsenal defended well, the impression was of a side playing 'cat and mouse' with their rival, although Iwobi showed drive with a shot over the crossbar.

Arsenal came into the game in the last five minutes of the first half, but despite causing a few nervous moments for the Barca defense, they failed to draw a save out of Ter Stegen.

Stegen still hadn't made a save in the 51st minute when Elneny gave Arsenal hope with a lovely goal from outside of the area which gave the Barca keeper no chance.

Messi responded with a diagonal shot following a Neymar backheel which Ospina did well to save, while at the other end a desperate block from Javier Mascherano stopped Danny Welback's goal-bound shot.

Suarez put Barca's qualification beyond doubt with a spectacular volley in the 65th minute. The Uruguayan, who was one wanted by Arsenal, managed to get his foot around a Dani Alves cross to leave Ospina helpless.

The goal left Arsenal groggy but after Barca made changes to rest Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic, an Alexis Sanchez free kick save Stegen made a spectacular double save, before Messi's late goal gave the final score a sheen that perhaps flattered Barca. Endit