"Barcelona" has set a record in Champions League

A heroic effort by Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a second half goal from Pedro that earned the Catalonian side a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain and a place in the Champions League semifinals. Barcelona advance to Europe's final four on the basis of its two away goals in the first leg in Paris and will play in their sixth consecutive Champions League semifinal.

Shortly before the match the news came down that Messi would start the match on the bench due to his injury sustained in the first leg. It was the first time Messi had not started a Champions League knockout round match for Barcelona since a 2008 quarterfinal against Schalke when Frank Rijkaard held the post as Barcelona coach. Seated at the end of the bench, the Argentine looked genuinely miserable to not be playing.

With the aggregate standing at 2-2 after the first leg, PSG were obligated to hunt for a goal at the outset of Wednesday night’s second leg. The result was that fans were treated to a breathless first half with end-to-end action.

Like always, Barcelona held the majority of the possession but it was the Parisians who had the best scoring opportunities. Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes was called on to make several saves, including two headed efforts by PSG in the 28th and 29th minutes that the Catalonian netminder was barely able to tip away to safety.

Barcelona's nightmare performance continued into the second half and just five minutes in PSG took advantage and scored. Ibrahimovic found Pastore in space on the left and the Argentine did the rest beating Alves and Valdes with a shot that quieted the Camp Nou.