2nd April, 2013
Blaise Matuidi’s goal deep in stoppage time earned Paris Saint Germain a deserved 2-2 draw in in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona at Parc des Princes here Tuesday.
Barca appeared to have snatched the win when Xavi Hernandez converted from the spot in the last minute of normal time after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had cancelled out Lionel Messi’s first half opener.
The penalty was awarded when PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu charged out and brought down Alexis Sanchez.
Messi put the Spanish giants into a 38th minute lead when a first-time Dani Alves pass with the outside of the right boot dropped straight into his path.
The finish, volleyed into the far corner, was as emphatic as Alves’ assist was sublime.
This was the Argentine four-time world footballer of the year’s 57th goal in all competitions this season.
But Messi’s night came to a premature end when he suffered a right hamstring injury and failed to emerge for the second half, with Cesc Fabregas taking his place.
Ibrahimovic, who had an unhappy one season spell with Barca, put PSG back in the game when pouncing on a rebound after a Thiago Silva header in the 79th minute ricocheted off the far post.
Then Matuidi popped up in the fourth minute of injury time to give PSG hope for the return leg at the Camp Nou next week.
PSG had come desperately close to taking the lead inside five minutes when Ezequiel Lavezzi saw a shot from inside the area take a touch off Sergio Busquets and hit the post.
The big-spending French club’s coach Carlo Ancelotti sprang a surprise when electing to start 37-year-old English star David Beckham in place of young Italian Marco Verratti.
It was a bold move by Ancelotti to put a player who will turn 38 next month in the engine room against the team widely considered as the best on the planet.
It was the veteran midfielder’s first champions League appearance since coming on as a substitute for AC Milan in a 4-0 drubbing by former club Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2010.
Beckham, speaking to ITV television, reflected: “In the first half, especially the first ten minutes we had a few very good chances, then they got their goal, it was an uphill battle but I think we deserved a draw tonight.”
On being named in the starting line-up he said: “The manager has shown a lot of confidence in me in games and in big moments, tonight was a big moment for the club.
“I’m pretty much at the same level as I was at AC Milan, it was only three years ago, I’m enjoying being part of these nights again, they don’t get better than this.”