Lyon: The image of a frustrated Lionel Messi with his hands on his hips in Barcelona’s 0-0 Champions League draw in Lyon may reverberate the most around the world, but it is Luis Suarez’s form in front of goal that is causing most concern in Catalonia.
Suarez laboured throughout much of the Champions League last 16, first leg in France, although he came as close as anyone to scoring for Barcelona when he fired just wide from a Jordi Alba cutback 20 minutes from time.
Barca’s recent struggles away from home at the business end of the Champions League go on — it is now six matches without an away win in the knockout rounds, with just one goal scored in that time, since beating Arsenal 2-0 three years ago. Suarez, meanwhile, has now gone 16 away matches without scoring in the competition since a draw at Roma in the group stage in 2015. That adds up to more than 24 hours in total.
“I’d be worried if he were not creating chances, but he has always had chances, he creates them for his teammates, and he is a constant headache for opponents throughout the game,” said coach Ernesto Valverde in defence of the 32-year-old.
Suarez has 16 goals in all competitions this season, but only one in his team’s last eight matches.
“Maybe he is saving them for the games to come,” added Valverde.
In other match, Liverpool’s undermanned defence held out for a precious clean sheet but Bayern Munich will also be confident of progress to the Champions League quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their last 16 tie at Anfield.
Sadio Mane wasted the best chance for the hosts on Tuesday, when the Senegalese forward fired wide during an open first 45 minutes, but a cagey second half left it all to be decided when the sides meet again in Munich on March 13.
Without the talismanic presence of Virgil van Dijk through suspension and the injured Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren, Liverpool were forced to name a make-shift central defence with Brazilian midfielder Fabinho moved back to partner Joel Matip.
That unfamiliarity showed in the early stages as the hosts started nervously at the back. (AFP)
