The National’s Sport cover for the Thursday, September 18 issue, featuring vicorious Barcelona in their Champions League opener.
It was a narrow result but Gerard Pique’s fist-half tally provided enough for Barca to take the three points.
Andy Mitten, writing from Barcelona, said Messi and Neymar "should be satisfied with their side's performance".
“Fourteen years to the day since he joined the club, Messi also had a 38th-minute shot saved after Neymar had set him up with a pass.
Messi and Neymar combined again for the Brazilian to shoot in the 45th minute but Belgian goalkeeper Urko Pardo, who began his career at Camp Nou for Barca’s C and B teams, again saved in front of the 62,832 crowd, which included 2,000 travelling supporters.”
Ultimately, “Barca’s win was a narrow one, but until that late Apoel effort, achieved without the tension the tight margin may have suggested.”
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
