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“Valverde must find a solution” – Fans Frustrated As Barcelona Edge Past Sporting CP + Match Report

Full Time: Sporting CP 0-1 Barcelona

Fortune favoured the team from Catalunya who played at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the 2nd Champions League group stage match tonight. Barcelona edged past Sporting Lisbon 1-0, thanks to a Sebastien Coates own goal, in what was a pretty dull and unenterprising match. Barcelona players looked off colour and their game had no real tempo and rhythm. Sporting were resilient and were looking for chances on the break.

The first half was a cagey affair. Barcelona tried to keep the ball with no real attacking intent and Sporting defence was compact and their forwards, on guard. No real chances came from either side until the 20th minute when Messi had a decent opportunity when he tested Rui Patricio from a Jordi Alba pass.

Suarez came close next but Patricio had his goal covered at the near post. Marc Andre ter Stegen was called into action when he had to get down to stop Marcos Acuna’s 18-yard drive. Sporting forward Seydou Doumbia was shown a yellow card for diving in the Barcelona penalty box. Both the teams went into the half-time break with the score tied at 0-0.

Barcelona went ahead four minutes into the second half when a long range inswinging Messi free-kick bounced off Suarez’s head and then hit Coates to find it’s way into the back of the net. Funny statistic. In the last two games, Barcelona have scored 4 goals. One of those 4 goals has been scored by a Barca player the rest have been own goals!

Messi was denied a chance to score his 100th Champions League goal and it was by former Barca defender, Jeremy Mathieu who slid in superbly. Sporting came close to an equaliser when Bas Dost picked out Bruno Fernandes in front of goal. But ter Stegen produced an excellent block using his body.

Barcelona could have extended their lead in the dying minutes when Paulinho, who was substituted on for Iniesta, shot straight at the keeper after being put through on goal.

Here’s how Twitteratis reacted to the lifeless match: