Lionel Messi left Liverpool needing a miracle to reach their second Champions League final in as many years as his brace helped Barcelona win a pulsating Champions League semi-final first leg 3-0 on Wednesday.

Barca have one foot in next month’s final ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at Anfield after former Reds striker Luis Suarez gave Barca the lead during a breathless opening 45 minutes before Messi struck twice late on, the second a stunning free-kick and his 600th Barca goal.

Jurgen Klopp could only smile after Messi’s curling shot nestled in the top corner but this result was harsh on his side.

They matched Barcelona in the first half, dominated them early in the second and could still have left with an away goal after Messi’s deadly double, only for Mohamed Salah to hit the post.

But Messi and Suarez did what they have done all season, their tallies now at 47 and 27 goals respectively in all competitions.

It had been a breathtaking contest befitting two of Europe’s most exhilarating teams. The first half was electric, a reel of chances, breaks and blocks, while the second was tense, a tactical battle where Barca dared Liverpool to over-exert.

The comeback will be even tougher for them given Barcelona, with La Liga wrapped up, will surely rest a host of players against Celta Vigo this weekend while Liverpool, a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, will have to be at full throttle again away at Newcastle on Saturday.

Scintillating

Messi was already fresh, after playing just over half the La Liga minutes he could have done in April, and he looked sharp early on, weaving through the centre while for Liverpool, the sensational Sadio Mane raced down the left.

The attacks were scintillating but the defending was good too. Andy Robertson scrambled across to block Messi’s finish from six yards and moments later it was Sergi Roberto on the slide, preventing Mane from racing clear.

Messi wanted a penalty when the ball jumped up on Joel Matip and Naby Keita went off injured in the 25th minute, replaced by Jordan Henderson.

A minute later came the goal. Arturo Vidal sprayed the ball left to Philippe Coutinho, who cushioned back for Jordi Alba. Alba shaped to cross but instead curved a perfectly weighted pass to the near post, where Suarez nipped in.

Liverpool came again. Mane scampered in behind then flicked the ball round Sergio Busquets. He should have scored too, Henderson’s cross finding him free from eight yards but the shot flew over.

Barca took control just as Suarez began to lose it, irked by James Milner barging Messi into the sideboards after the Argentinian had danced past Robertson.

But Liverpool were re-energised at the start of the second half. Marc-Andre ter Stegen pushed away shots from Milner and Mohamed Salah, then held a Milner drive.

Then Messi took the wind out of Liverpool’s sails, striking twice in seven minutes. His own run started the first, setting Sergi free to square to Suarez. Off balance, Suarez could only volley against the crossbar but the ball came back for Messi, who chested and finished into an open net.

Two was hard on Liverpool but Messi was not done. The free-kick was central, 30 yards out, and he whipped it over the wall and into the top corner.

Barca were delirious but Liverpool almost grabbed an away goal when a clearance on the line fell kindly for Salah, who hammered against the post and left Liverpool with little hope of making the Madrid final.

(AFP)

The impressive performance by the Cameroonian against the English team impressed football fans on social media on Tuesday night

Andre Onana amazed the continent in the form of a clean slate, as Ajax stunned Tottenham 1-0 in England.

Donny van de Beek’s early strike earned the Dutch side a first-leg advantage ahead of the return leg in Amsterdam.

The 23-year-old put in a good shift as he made crucial saves to deny Mauricio Pochettino’s men any chance to bounce back.

It was the type of performance that left football fans on Twitter salivating for more.

AFC Ajax✔@AFCAjax · 9h

90+3. Intense first chapter! #UCL #totaja

Keith R.@keith_rich

What a perfect name for a goalkeeper. Andre Onana. Everytime a player tries to score a goal. Onana, not this time. Good try tho.411:11 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Keith R.’s other TweetsView image on Twitter

Mesfouf & Koshary@MesfoufKoshary

André Onana with a clean sheet on the road in the Champions League semi-finals, the 23-year old was very reassuring in net all game long, excellent showing by the Samuel Eto’o Academy product 210:42 PM – Apr 30, 2019See Mesfouf & Koshary’s other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacy

Denzil@KingOfTooting

Andre Onana was superb tonight and I wish more keepers would dominate their box like that. Takes so much pressure off the defence. As for the time wasting, if it was your keeper what would you think?10:25 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Denzil’s other Tweets

Dan @TheDanAlden

Fairly certain Andre Onana is now my favourite keeper ever. How livid he made the Tottenham fans with some outrageous time wasting. Hero10:00 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Dan ‘s other Tweets

ADAMU MUFTAWU@muftymufty15

My money on Andre Onana for Cameroon number 1 to 2019 AFCON.59:48 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee ADAMU MUFTAWU’s other Tweets

Nico “Oyabin”@NicoSulky

Andre Onana is the keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga thinks he is. #AFC #CFC210:00 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Nico “Oyabin”‘s other Tweets

Muhammad sir_Larm@sirlarm

Andre Onana of Ajax is better than David De gea9:27 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Muhammad sir_Larm’s other Tweets

Conor@ConorM67_

Andre Onana is now my new fave keeper for no other reason than just how much he gets Jermaine Jenas raging.199:49 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Conor’s other Tweets

Dela Michael@Delraiser

Thomas N’kono, Joseph-Antoine Bell, Jacques Songo’o, Carlos Kameni. Boy!!! Cameroon has produced some very fine goalkeepers in the past. André Onana has got some tough acts to follow but he’s on track.29:03 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Dela Michael’s other Tweets

Petyr Okurut@okurutsimp94

Andre Onana the last African goal keeper still standing tall in Europe’s top leagues taking over from the great Kameni #totaja #ajax58:44 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Petyr Okurut’s other Tweets

Rocksteady@ShardGooner

Andre Onana 8:42 PM – Apr 30, 2019

Source: Goal.com

The interruption of the Dijon-Amiens Ligue 1 match on Friday after visiting captain Prince Gouano was the target of monkey chants adds to a string of recent racist incidents across Europe.ADVERTISING

It comes after rising Italy star Moise Kean was targeted by racist abuse in Cagliari in Serie A earlier in the month.

Monkey chants were aimed at England players during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro and there have been a series of episodes involving London clubs.

“Racism exists in the stadiums in France, but we cannot put the situation on the same level as in Eastern European countries or Italy,” football sociologist Nicolas Hourcade, a professor at the Central School of Lyon, told AFP.

The goalless draw in Dijon was halted in the 78th minute as players from both sides stopped playing and headed towards the touchline after Gouano said he heard insults.

“It’s over,” Gouano said. “We’re not playing on. I’m taking off my team-mates.”

Players, including Gouano went to remonstrate with fans.

Referee Karim Abed also asked the stadium announcer to “get the message across, if it happens again, we stop.”

Following discussions between players, coaches and officials, play then resumed.

“In Dijon, we saw that it was an isolated supporter who could be identified and arrested,” Hourcade said. “In other countries, there are collective demonstrations where a whole section of the ground, or a good part of one, can shout monkey chants or racist slogans.”

After the game, the French league (LFP) said it would investigate and also announced that Dijon had identified the culprit. The club said they intended to press charges.

“These disgusting shouts are contrary to the values conveyed by sport, they insult our Republic, and I welcome the rapid reaction of the LFP: racism will never have a place in France,” responded Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

Anti-racism campaigners urge abandoning matches.

“We do not tackle the subject of racism as we should,” former France captain Lilian Thuram told AFP in 2018, after Blaise Matuidi suffered abuse when Juventus played at Cagliari.

“Why didn’t the referee stop the match, why didn’t the white players leave the field?”

“If there is no deal with the problem, it will be the same thing in 20 years,” he said.

Yet the same thing did happen when Juventus played at Cagliari on April 2. Kean, along with Matuidi and Brazilian Alex Sandro, were targeted by monkey noises and jeers throughout the match.

‘Openly fascist’

Instead of denouncing their fans, Cagliari’s leadership blamed Kean for celebrating his late winner by standing motionless and silent with arms spread in front of the hostile stand.

“Italy is a case apart for two reasons,” Hourcade said. “The historical strength of the extreme right, and the presence of openly fascist fan organisations.”

But in England too, there have been numerous recent incidents at all levels of football.

On Thursday, half a dozen Chelsea fans posted a video on social media in which they sang that Liverpool’s Egyptian star, Mohamed Salah, was a “bomber”. Chelsea identified and barred three of the fans.

Arsenal are attempting to identify a fan who was caught on video shouting racist abuse at Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli in a Europa League game on Thursday.

In December, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling was the target of insults at Chelsea and a Tottenham fan threw a banana in the direction of Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

One of the major issues is “to identify the perpetrators of these acts to punish them,” said Hourcade.

Spurs’ England defender Danny Rose has blasted the game’s rulers for failing to rein in racism, calling their efforts “a farce”.

(AFP)

Marseille’s sudden recent revival has coincided with the arrival of Mario Balotelli, and they take on Paris Saint-Germain this weekend hoping for a long overdue victory against their old foes.

PSG have not lost any of their last 18 meetings with Marseille in all competitions since a 3-0 defeat at the Velodrome back in November 2011, the first game between the teams following the Qatari takeover in Paris.

The fixture has lost some of its lustre as a result, with Marseille only managing three draws in the ‘Classique’ in all that time.

Most recently, PSG won 2-0 in Marseille in October, a result which came at the start of a dreadful run of form for Rudi Garcia’s team as they won just three times in 18 games in all competitions, a slump that saw them dumped out of both domestic cups and the Europa League.

But then Balotelli arrived, and OM quickly started winning again — five wins and a draw in their last six games have seen Marseille move back to within three points of the top three in Ligue 1.

Finishing on the podium, and returning to the Champions League, is seen as essential for the southern giants — still the only French side ever to have won the European Cup — and their American owner Frank McCourt.

Since signing from Nice on a short-term deal at the end of January, Balotelli has scored five times in seven games, his last two goals being followed by memorable celebrations — a group selfie immediately posted to Instagram, and then a game of rock-paper-scissors.

The former Manchester City striker’s impact on his teammates has been considerable.

“The mentality, the mindset on the pitch are different now,” midfielder Kevin Strootman, who ironically has lost his place in the side in recent weeks, told sports daily L’Equipe.

“If we want to keep fighting for a top-three place, and get into the Champions League, we have to show that we are capable of winning the big matches.”

– What welcome for PSG? –

There could be a tense atmosphere at the Parc des Princes, with PSG facing their home support for the first time since the crushing disappointment of their Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United.

Thomas Tuchel’s side faced verbal abuse and taunts from angry fans when they returned to training last weekend, before winning 4-0 at struggling Dijon in a rearranged game on Tuesday.

The fall-out from their European debacle continues, and outcast midfielder Adrien Rabiot — who has been sidelined after refusing to sign a new contract — has now been suspended.

According to L’Equipe, Rabiot was punished for a nightclub visit in the wake of the United game, and for ‘liking’ a video posted on social media by former United player Patrice Evra celebrating the result in the stands at the Parc des Princes.

PSG remain untouchable in France — they are 17 points clear of second-placed Lille at the top of the table with a game in hand and have won all 14 of their home fixtures.

Elsewhere, Lyon will look to bounce back from their Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona as they host Montpellier on Sunday.

After being eliminated from the Europa League in the last 16 by Arsenal, Rennes go to Bordeaux, who will be playing their first match under new coach Paulo Sousa.

“We have to congratulate the players for their remarkable run,” said Rennes coach Julien Stephan after a 3-0 defeat in London saw them go out 4-3 on aggregate.

“We don’t have the experience or the power of Arsenal, but we have learnt a lot, even if the experience ended in a painful manner.”

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Nice v Toulouse (1800), Lille v Monaco (1945)

Saturday

Angers v Amiens, Caen v Saint-Etienne, Guingamp v Dijon, Nimes v Strasbourg (all 1900)

Sunday

Lyon v Montpellier (1330), Reims v Nantes (1400), Bordeaux v Rennes (1600), Paris Saint-Germain v Marseille (2000)

AFP

When Stoke City got relegated from the Premier League less than 12 months ago, few could have expected one of their transfer flops to be leading the line against Manchester United in the Champions League this week.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored just five goals in 32 games for the Potters – ironically, two came in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United – and was a major disappointment after his move from Schalke 04.

The Stoke misfit saw his contract cancelled by mutual consent when they dropped out of the top flight and, to the surprise of many, he landed on his feet with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Cameroon international has had a limited role in the French capital but is clearly relishing being part of one of Europe’s top clubs.

Now, he’s been thrust to the forefront of their bid for Champions League glory and could lead the line in their last-16 first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The powerful 29-year-old made his Bundesliga breakthrough with Hamburg as a teenager and made 10 appearances for Germany up to Under 21 level, scoring eight goals.

In May 2010, however, he received a senior call-up by Cameroon, the country of his father’s birth, ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

Despite once coming under an investigation into his international eligibility, Choupo-Moting has won 48 caps for Cameroon and scored 14 goals.

The striker spent three years at Mainz 05 from 2011 to 2014 before making his way to Schalke 04 for a three-season stint.

His form earned him his Premier League move to Stoke City, although he could not build on a bright start as the Potters were relegated and he was sidelined from March onwards by a groin injury.

The big-name superstars of PSG have limited him to an impact sub role, but he started against Bordeuax at the weekend and is now primed to feature at Old Trafford given Neymar and Edison Cavani are ruled out.

Choupo-Moting recently spoke about the challenge of facing a “changed” Manchester United as he expects a tough clash.

He told RMC : “Manchester United, they have changed. But it’s always like that when you change coaches.

“There may be a new state of mind in the team, everyone wants to show their best.

“But I do not care about other teams, we have to think about ourselves, we believe in ourselves.

“We have the quality to beat anyone but it will be a tough match because Manchester United are a very good team with great quality players.”

Source: Mirror.co.uk