The favourites? Still Barca apparently...
...William Hill have just sent us these odds:
Winner - Champions League 2013:
13/8 Barcelona
9/4 Real Madrid
5/2Bayern Munich
11/2 Dortmund
21:38
So, your semi-final lineup:
Barcelona
Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich
You may or may not notice two distinct themes in those four names.
21:36
It's all over!
FT: Barcelona 1-1 PSG
Barca
go through on away goals, but what a marvellous showing from the
visitors, who took the game to the Blaugrana in magnificent style and
will undoubtedly be a European power over the next few years -
especially if the likes of Lucas Moura and Marco Verratti continue to
develop at their current rate.
21:35
All over in Turin:
FT: Juventus 0-2 Bayern.
One minute to play in Barcelona.
21:33
GOAL BAYERN MUNICH!
But it makes little difference.
Substitute Claudio Pizarro makes it 2-0 on the night.
21:30
About that turn Iniesta made...
...yeah, it's beautiful.
21:27
Barcelona well on top now:
Hard to see where
that all-important PSG goal would come from, but they do boast pace on
the counter with Lavezzi and Moura, so don't rule it out.
Getting the ball of Barca first might be the hard bit though.
And
the hosts nearly score again when Iniesta pulls of a remarkable turn to
embarrass the visitors' defence, only to smash the ball into the side
netting.
21:22
Marco Verratti OFF, David Beckham ON.
A big performance from the young Italian tonight, but here comes D-Becks.
Barcelona introduce Alex Song for David Villa - a rather more defensive shift.
21:19
Lavezzi booked!
A tad late from the Argentine,
but Jordi Alba is very unhappy with him and if PSG were to progress
then he'd not be playing in their next game.
It's a shame for them, and him, because he's been very good over the two legs.
21:16
PSG now must score again.
There's no other way they can go through to a first-ever Champions League semi-final.
However, they've barely got out of their half since Messi came on.
21:13
GOAL BARCA!
It's Pedro!
Messi starts it all off with a
slipped ball through, and while PSG try to bungle their way through it,
David Villa gets on the ball and touches it back to the waiting Pedro
who slays a left-footed shot past Sirigu.
The keeper had no chance.
1-1, and as things stand it's Barca going through.
21:08
GOAL BAYERN!
Game, set and match.
A wicked cross causes
all manner of trouble in the Juve penalty area and Javi Martinez does
brilliantly to stretch a leg out and divert it on target.
Gigi Buffon saved well, but he could only parry it back into the danger area and Mario Mandzukic dived in to head home.
That is that, you'd say.
21:05
Immediately Barca are more forceful in attack.
His presence alone would scare you senseless... and then he gets the ball.
Messi slides in Iniesta within a minute of coming on and PSG starting to be pushed back.
21:00
Marc Bartra, Lionel Messi ON; Adriano, Cesc OFF.
A
change at centre-half where an *actual* centre-back replaces Adriano
and up front where some Argie midget replaces former Arsenal superstar
Cesc Fabregas.
Things could get interesting.
20:56
Bayern hit the post:
Arjen Robben's left-foot curler has just rattled the frame of the goal.
Bayern dominating the second half so far.
20:52
So, Barcelona are going OUT!
As things stand - of course - but this is no fluke and the French side deserve to be on top.
The important questions now:
How long until Messi comes on?
Is he fit?
Can PSG hold on?
37 minutes to go.
20:50
GOAL PSG!
Javier Pastore! And it's a deserved lead for the Parisians.
Played through in the left channel by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he races away before finishing neatly past Victor Valdes.
1-0.
20:46
We are back underway!
45 minutes remain.
As things stand, Barcelona and Bayern Munich join their respective domestic underlings in the semi-finals.
Game on.
20:30
Half time:
Barcelona 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain (Agg: 2-2)
Juventus 0-0 Bayern (Agg: 0-2)
The key points being that PSG simply must take their chances if they're to go through.
Juve haven't created many, and that Pogba cross and a Pirlo free kick are as close as they've been.
20:26
PSG continue to do well...
...but unless they score then it means the square root of sod all.
Marco Verratti has been brilliant so far, justifying his selection over the experience of David Beckham.
A booking for Adriano for a foul on Lucas Moura means he's suspended for his next UEFA fixture.
20:23
Chance for Barcelona.
If you're the PSG keeper then you're worried when David Villa is allowed to pick up the ball outside the box, turn and shoot.
But it goes over. Way over.
Still no shot on target for the hosts.
20:19
Our friends at Opta have a stat:
And it tells the story of how well PSG have done.
"Shots on target after 30 minutes: Barcelona 0, PSG 4."
It's been a long time since any side went to Barcelona and showed this much attacking intent (without playing Espanyol).
20:15
I've just remembered:
Even if PSG *do* go ahead, it will be a tough ask.
After all, there is a little bit of talent on the bench.
20:12
First *good* chance for Juve:
Paul Pogba -
yes, United fans, him - burst into the box and squared beautifully
across the face of goal, but no Juventus player arrived to get on the
end of it and the chance was lost.
It would have been a tap-in with the goal gaping.
PSG have just had another chance as Zlatan's dinked cross found Lucas at the far post, but his header sailed over the bar.
Both games bubbling nicely.
20:08
That's the chance!
You've got to score those if you want to qualify from this tie, and Lavezzi hasn't.
Set
through again, he escaped the Barcelona defence through the middle
(again) but couldn't beat Valdes in a one-on-one situation, with the
keeper saving with his left leg.
You NEED to be finishing those chances to win at the Camp Nou.
20:05
It's a more open game in Barcelona though:
PSG
are having chances, with Lucas Moura and Lavezzi testing the hosts'
defence with their pace, but down the other end there are opportunities
for the hosts, and when Pedro's cross was palmed into the danger zone by
Sirigu it got a bit hairy.
Still no goals though.
20:02
Lots of fouls and niggly stuff in Turin:
Eight free kicks and two yellow cards already there.
Bayern have been marginally on top but no clear chances yet.
19:57
Everyone loves a shot from halfway:
Except Salvatore Sirigu it seems, who was struggling there when Andres Iniesta tried to lob him from some 45 yards.
Clever from the little Spaniard to spot him off his line, but it goes narrowly over.
Meanwhile, there's a yellow card for Leo Bonucci in Turin.
19:52
Mario Mandzukic booked:
He will now miss the semi-final first leg (if Bayern go through).
His high-pressing, defend-from-the-front role was taken a bit seriously there and he's caught Chiellini a bit late.
19:49
He caused problems last week:
And he's started well with a shot inside two minutes.
Ezequiel Lavezzi is the man in question, and his curled effort is straight at Valdes.
Only a minute later he looks to be through again but he's caught just as he reaches the penalty area.
Once more, playing centrally he appears to be causing problems with Zlatan operating a tad deeper.
19:45
We're underway!
In ninety minutes we will know our semi-final lineup for the Champions League.
(Disclaimer: May not be 90 minutes)
19:42
The teams are out:
It's a bumper crowd at the Camp Nou - as you'd expect - and it should be a ripsnorter of a game too.
A bit more subdued in Italy but the crowd are trying to make things happen.
Conte looks animated.
19:36
So, if we're to have any shocks tonight:
The following will need to happen.
PSG - rank outsiders to qualify at the Camp Nou - will need to make the most of Barca's defensive woes.
At
the weekend it was Alex Song and Marc Bartra in at centre-back, tonight
it's Pique and Adriano. Adriano has played in this role just four times
for the club, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will need to use his own nous to
exploit what positional lapses the Brazilian makes.
In Turin, Juve simply have to be much better, cope with Bayern's pressing and probably hope for an early goal or a red card.
With the quality in Antonio Conte's side, it would be foolish to write them off but Bayern are pretty bloody good themselves.
19:29
He's on the bench tonight...
...and chances are that if he comes on then he'll be booed by the locals, but Becks looks focused.
His side parting is also absolutely impeccable.
This should no longer surprise us.
Bayern
go with Mandzukic ahead of Pizarro or Gomez, while Juve chuck in Simone
Padoin on the right of midfield with Lichtsteiner suspended.
19:00
Hello there!
Welcome back.
Originally you'd probably planned to go out tonight, there's
that Selena Gomez film
on at the cinema that you thought you may as well go and see because there's
a lot of bikini action,
but after
last night's mentalness
how on earth could you rip yourself away from the sofa? Borussia Dortmund's incredible comeback
in stoppage time capped off a wonderful night in the Champions League,
and this evening's fixtures have every bit as much chance of dazzling
us.
With two away goals there is no doubt that Barcelona have the
advantage in their tie, but with Lionel Messi only on the bench, they
may lack their usual fluidity.
And before you say it....yes I know they didn't at the weekend but Mallorca are rubbish - they're bottom for a reason.
Bayern
absolutely bossed Juve in Munich and should lead this tie by more than
two goals, but if Juventus can perform to their capabilities, nick an
early goal or there's an erroneous sending-off... Who knows, eh?
All
I know is that the best place to follow it all is right here, so stay
tuned for GIFing, riffing and biffing (I don't know what the last one
is).
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