He wasn't the man of the match. That was Willian. His side didn't have the best chances. Those fell to Chelsea. Yet if Barcelona approach the second leg as undoubted favourites, and they do, it is Lionel Messi that is responsible. Again.
Barcelona mentor Ernesto Valverde said that they will hope to enhance their scoring structure on their movements in Europe when they go up against Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
While the Catalan side are notable for their free streaming football they have battled for objectives from home."These are the insights that we have and it gives a thought of how troublesome the opposition is," Valverde told a question and answer session.
The Blues midfielder has hailed his previous colleague and companion in front of his side's conflict with Barcelona in the Champions League
Cesc Fabregas is anticipating confronting his great companion Lionel Messi when Chelsea welcome Barcelona to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The last-16 tie will be the first run through Fabregas has played against Barcelona for Chelsea, yet he came up against Messi three times amid his Arsenal days.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man and by and by Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated why he is that man for Real Madrid, paying tribute to his side's understanding subsequent to beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-1.
Wednesday night's last-16 first leg began gravely for Los Blancos however a prop from the winger, his 100th and 101st in the opposition without a doubt, gave them a pivotal preferred standpoint in front of the arrival.