Barcelona got two away goals against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the 2013 Champions league quarterfinals. However, it was not enough to put away an ever insistent French side that kept finding ways to make a comeback in a 2-2 draw.
Barcelona also lost a major piece during the game: Lionel Messi. The superstar picked up a hamstring injury that ESPN reports will leave him out for three months. Prior to his injury, Messi scored his tournament leading eight goal when he received a brilliant aerial pass from Dani Alves inside the box and deposited it into the far side of the goal.
Paris Saint-Germain stood up to Barcelona throughout the night and matched them on shot on goal despite being out possessed 68 percent to 32. The team played an aggressive style that disrupted Barça's fluid passing style.
The score remained 1-0 until the 79th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic tapped in a rebound off a Thiago Silva header that had hit the post. Barcelona would regain the lead when Xavi scored on a penalty shot in the 89th minute and it looked like the Spanish giants would runaway with the game. However Blaise Matuidi would score in the first minute of stoppage to equalize the game and level the aggregate. Matuidi's shot resurrected off of Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes who should have made the save.
In addition to Messi, Barcelona also lost Javier Mascherano to injury. In other news, David Beckham made the start for Paris; it was the first time since March 2010 that Beckham had played in the Champions league. He played for 70 minutes and became the first Englishman to play in the competition for four different clubs.
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