Neymar double helps brilliant Barcelona down PSG
Neymar scored twice as Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in the last eight seasons by comfortably beating Paris St Germain 2-0 on Tuesday to complete an emphatic 5-1 aggregate victory.
The Nou Camp crowd were brought to their feet for Neymar's first goal as midfielder Andres Iniesta ran from his own half, skipping past three challenges, before delivering a perfect pass for the Brazilian, who rounded keeper Salvatore Sirigu and slid the ball home after 14 minutes.
PSG offered little resistance as Barca swept the ball around midfield and the Catalan side went further in front when Neymar headed home a curling cross from fullback Dani Alves after 34 minutes.
Barca eased off in the second half and were happy to hold on for a victory that keeps them on course to repeat their treble success of 2009.
"We did the same that we did in Paris, we came out and played our game and scored the goals we needed," Neymar said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster TVE.
"I think we are on good form, in the Champions League, in La Liga, everything and hopefully we can continue the same way."
PSG were without injured duo Thiago Motta and Thiago Silva but they did have former Barca striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti back from suspension.
Their Brazilian defender David Luiz, who had a torrid time against Luis Suarez in the first leg, was booked after just three minutes for a reckless challenge on Ivan Rakitic.
Barca had no intention of sitting on their 3-1 advantage from the first leg and conjured up a magical first goal with Iniesta the architect and Neymar the executioner.
Iniesta, who was only given the all-clear from a pelvis injury on Monday, dictated play in midfield and with the quality of Barca’s forward line, the Catalans were able to take full advantage.
Ibrahimovic correctly had a goal ruled out for offside in a rare attack from the French side before Barca doubled their lead when Alves swung in a left-footed cross and an unmarked Neymar headed home.
Barca lost some of their dominance when Iniesta was replaced by veteran Xavi at halftime.
Yet apart from a strike from Verratti that went wide and a powerful effort from Ibrahimovic that was saved by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, PSG caused few problems for the Barca defence.
Bayern crush Porto 6-1
Majestic Bayern Munich destroyed Porto 6-1 to charge into the Champions League semi-finals 7-4 on aggregate on Tuesday and remain on track for a treble in Pep Guardiola's 100th competitive game in charge.
The five-time European champions, who lost 3-1 in the first leg last week, showed no sign of nerves as they dismantled the hapless Portuguese with an impressive attacking display for a fourth straight last four spot.
Reminiscent of Germany's 7-1 World Cup semi-final demolition of Brazil last year, Bayern scored three times in 13 minutes through Thiago Alcantara, Jerome Boateng and Robert Lewandowski, to wipe out their quarter-final, first leg deficit.
"This is about life or death and I know how very important it was," Guardiola, who was under mounting pressure after their first leg defeat and the sudden departure of the club's long-time doctor told ZDF Television.
"I know what is expected of me in this team. It is about winning just like at Barcelona. We played a different game. We knew Porto better after the first game. Now we have to fight otherwise we will not achieve what we set out to do."
Two more goals before the break from Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller, who became Germany's record scorer in the competition with 27, and a late Xabi Alonso free-kick finished off Porto, who had Ivan Marcano sent off in the 87th for a second booking.
Despite missing Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and David Alaba among others, Bayern took the initiative from the start.
The hosts, who have won all five home games in this season's competition, made their intentions clear early on when their Poland striker Lewandowski hit the post in the 10th minute.
Spaniard Thiago made their dominance count four minutes later, heading in at the near post from a Juan Bernat cross to give them the lead on the night.
With the home fans urging their team on, Jerome Boateng got the second in the 22nd, rising high to bury another header as the visitors' defence struggled to contain Bayern on the wings. Although a 2-0 scoreline would have been enough to send them through on away goals, Bayern did not let up and Lewandowski drilled home a header in the 27th as Bayern ripped Porto's rearguard to shreds. Mueller's deflected shot in the 36th made it 4-0 before Lewandowski grabbed his second four minutes later.
Bayern took their foot off the gas after the break and Jackson Martinez pulled one back for the visitors in the 73rd before they were reduced to 10 men when Marcano got a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Thiago.
Bayern put the icing on the cake with their sixth goal in the 88th minute as they preserved Spaniard Guardiola's impressive record of never having a team eliminated at the Champions League quarter-final stage.
