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LONDON: Barcelona’s Neymar is challenged by Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin during the soccer Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Barcelona at the Emirates stadium in London, yesterday. — AP Messi’s late double sinks Arsenal

LONDON: Two goals from Lionel Messi steered Barcelona to a con- vincing 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League yesterday. China can challenge Messi provided a clinical finish to a breakaway move that featured strike partners Luis Suarez and Neymar in the 71st minute and then for World Cup scored an 83rd minute penalty to seal the first-leg match. The five-time world player of the year decided a game that glory: Eriksson Barcelona had dominated, without taking all the chances that came the way of its feared strike trio. MELBOURNE: Shanghai SIPG boss Sven-Goran Arsenal created opportunities in both halves and looked to limit Eriksson believes China, buoyed by the power the damage against a side that its own manager Arsene Wenger and influence of President Xi Jinping, can put described as “super favorites.” aside years of failure at international level and Barcelona will be confident of reaching the quarterfinals for the push for World Cup glory in a decade. The ninth consecutive season after the second leg on March 16 at the Swede’s club has, like many Chinese Super Nou Camp. Barcelona had beaten Arsenal in both their previous League sides, invested heavily of late in new play- meetings in the knockout stages, in 2010 and 2011, along with the ers and facilities after football fan Xi demanded 2006 final in Paris. Its second-half performance in London, which soccer officials improve on just one disappointing combined possession with dangerous counterattacks, was a potent group stage exit at the 2002 World Cup. China are reminder of that track record. in danger of an early exit from 2018 World Cup Arsenal made a bright enough start and carved out a half-chance qualifying in Asia but Eriksson, who managed the after only eight minutes. A clever backheel by Aron Ramsey found Ivory Coast at the 2010 tournament in South Mesut Ozil, but the return pass wasn’t good enough for the Wales Africa, said the Asians would quickly see the midfielder to get a clean shot away. returns on their multi-million dollar investment. Arsenal was clearly looking to move the ball forward quickly on “Ten years ahead, 15 years ahead, I am quite the break, as Barcelona gradually took control of the play - though sure that the China national team will compete to the visitors were initially showing a lot more patience than real attacking threat. win the World Cup,” he told reporters yesterday Instead, the hosts came close to breaking the deadlock when ahead of their AFC Champions League opener Hector Bellerin’s blocked shot ran free in the area for Alex Oxlade- away to Melbourne Victory on Wednesday. “The Chamberlain, whose low shot from close range drew a smart save by TURIN: Bayern’s Arjen Robben, top, jumps past Juventus’ Patrice Evra during the Champions future for China is great.” Marc-Andre ter Stegen. League, round of 16, first-leg soccer match between Juventus and Bayern Munich at the The much-travelled 68-year-old coach made Despite all its share of the ball, Barcelona’s first real chance came Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy, yesterday. — AP his managerial name after winning titles in midway through the half with a free kick on the edge of the area that Portugal with Benfica and Lazio in Italy before Messi ploughed into the Arsenal wall. Juve stage two-goal comeback taking over as England coach and later The holders were gradually ratcheting up the pressure, though, Manchester City. and should have opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime. Dani to draw 2-2 with Bayern Eriksson moved to China with Guangzhou R&F Alves lofted in a clever ball from the right side of the area but Suarez in 2013 before taking over at Shanghai a year lat- could only flash a glancing header across the face of the goal. TURIN: Juventus staged a superb comeback from Mueller then missed an excellent chance when he er and led them to a runner-up Super League fin- It was a scoreline that seemed to satisfy Wenger, who kept his two goals down to rescue their Champions League failed to tap in from two metres out after Robert ish last term after signing Argentina Dario Conca team on the defensive for the second half. Yet Barcelona ripped hopes and secure a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich Lewandowski had set up his team mate with a and Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan. in their last 16 first leg yesterday. superb assist. The Germany international, however, through Arsenal’s defense barely three minutes after the re-start with He said his move to the burgeoning football Thomas Mueller pounced on a deflected cross to proved why he is such a prolific goalscorer, when he a superb pass for Neymar, whose shot was blocked in a one-on-one market of China had been another fortunate step with Petr Cech. put the visitors ahead in the 43rd minute and was in the right place to slot in from 10 metres for his in his career. “I think I am at the right place at the Arsenal replied with a header from Olivier Giroud from a Nacho Dutchman Arjen Robben doubled the lead early in sixth goal in seven Champions League matches this right time,” said the Swede, who also managed Monreal cross that Ter Stegen did well to block as the pace and tem- the second half before goals from Paulo Dybala and season, after Juve failed to clear a ball in the box. po of the game ticked up. substitute Stefano Sturaro drew the hosts level. Robben doubled their lead after the break with his Mexico, Sampdoria and Leicester City and held Messi had a shot in the area charged down, Suarez sent an inviting Bayern had looked to be cruising to their third first goal of the year, a trademark move by the technical positions at clubs in Dubai and low pass across the face of the goal and it seemed to be only a matter straight win at Juventus with close to 70 percent pos- Dutchman, who cut inside from the right and curled Thailand. “I’ve been lucky. I was in Italy during the of time before Barcelona scored. session in the first hour. a left-footed effort into the net. 90s when every football player wanted to come Yet last season’s finalists, who have been in superb Dybala, however, made the most of a bad Philipp The goal came when Suarez released Neymar down the left and to Italy because there was more money and the form in recent months, refused to surrender, and Lahm clearance to beat Manuel Neuer on the hour football was very, very good. “Then the 2000s, Messi had time and space to beat Cech. Suarez then somehow man- staged a scintillating second-half comeback to leave and inject new life into the hosts’ performance and the English Premier League, all the players want- aged to hit the post from point blank range after a pass from Messi the tie open after a frustrating finish for the Germans. trigger a frantic Juve search for an equaliser. Juan from another breakaway. Bayern, the 2013 champions, shot out of the Cuadrado almost got it minutes later but Neuer calm- ed to go there. Messi made such no mistake from the spot after being tripped by blocks in search of a quick goal and were almost ly stood his ground to block the Colombian’s shot. “Now 2016, it seems like every football player Mathieu Flamini, sending Cech the wrong way with the spot kick, and rewarded when former Juve player Arturo Vidal’s The keeper, however, could do nothing when Sturaro wants to come to China. “For Chinese football it’s only a fine save at the end by the Arsenal goalkeeper prevented powerful volley forced 38-year-old keeper Gianluigi beat his marker to slide in and level in the 76th very, very good.” — Reuters Neymar from adding a third with a header. — AP Buffon to palm his effort round the post. minute. — Reuters