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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Luis Suarez elevates Barcelona to a new level and Neymar is back

Luis Suarez elevates Barcelona to a new level and Neymar is back on form, too... but PSG desperately missed banned Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Champions League defeat

Luis Suarez scored a brace while Neymar also netted in 3-1 win at PSG
 Suarez has 17 goals for the season after slow start to life at the Nou Camp
Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar is the best front three in world football
 PSG missed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's world-class qualities in their defeat

 Barcelona took a major step towards qualification for the last four of the Champions League after they dismantled Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. Sportsmail's ADAM CRAFTON takes a look at five things we learned from Barcelona's emphatic victory.

 Super Suarez

 It feels rather strange now but there was a time last summer when we were all wondering whether Luis Suarez - with his penchant for a human-based snack during football matches - was worth all that money for Barcelona. There can be no question anymore. It is now 17 goals for the season and Barcelona's front three, spearheaded by Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar is the most in-form in world football. They are a frightening prospect and Suarez, after three goals in his first 12 games for Barcelona, has hit the high notes at the right time. He has scored 10 in his last 11 games - including two crucial goals away at Manchester City - and his understanding with his strike partners has elevated this Barcelona side to a new level.


PSG yearn for Zlatan's quality

Prior to this game, PSG were unbeaten so far this season when playing without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, winning 11 and drawing 5 of the 16 games. It had developed a view - nourished by that inspiring performance when Ibrahbimovic was sent off at Chelsea - that PSG may be a stronger collective unit without the Swede.

 Yet on the grandest occasions, you still require that moment of world-class quality and Laurent Blanc really needed Edinson Cavani to stand tall here.

Once more, though, the Uruguayan failed to deliver on the biggest stage. PSG fans still wince at the memory of his miss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season and so often, he leaves you wanting more in these pivotal games. He was brilliantly denied by a Javier Mascherano challenge in the first half but you sensed he lacked the conviction to really make the most of the opportunity.

He does some wonderful things, moving with pace and intelligence but when faced with a guilt-edged opening, he too often loses that defining ability to remain cool and detached when faced by a goalkeeper and the roar of the crowd.

When bearing down on Mascherano in the first half, he was like a pianist whose timing has deserted him, hesitating and pontificating. It is now only four goals in 15 games and you can perhaps understand why PSG may be tempted to cash in on him.

Neymar back in form

After a run of three goals in 10 games, the Brazilian had begun to fade into the shadows a little, particularly when placed against the the brilliance of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

The local rumour mill had begun swirling and there were suggestions - not without foundation - in the Catalan media that Neymar is unhappy with how often he is substituted by his manager. This was a good response. He remains such a talent and the opening goal tonight was clinically dispatched and marked his 28th goal of an excellent season.

Messi was pulling the strings as ever but Neymar was the most eye-catching Barcelona forward in the first-half.

PSG's Euro home run comes to an end

This victory for Barcelona brought a shuddering end to PSG's proud unbeaten run at the Parc de Princes in European competition. Barcelona are the first team to win here in either the Europa League or Champions League since Hapoel Tel-Aviv in 2006 - an undefeated streak that had lasted nine years, yielding 22 wins and 11 draws. In truth, the victory was rarely in doubt from the first whistle, such was Barcelona's composure and quality on the ball.

Sir Alex Ferguson once described the experience of facing Barcelona's passing game as like being on a 'carousel'. PSG started brightly and for a few moments, it looked like the carousel might have malfunctioned. But it was no more than a glitch. PSG hopped on and when the referee finally called time, they staggered off across the fairground, most probably feeling rather sick.

 Busquets is the midfield maestro

We have marvelled for years at the gifts of Xavi and Andres Iniesta and while the shielding work of Sergio Busquets has also been appreciated, it does seem as though he has become even more prominent under Luis Enrique.

 He reads the game with such intelligence, stepping in with poise and composure to mop up the danger. Those around him - Iniesta, Rakitic and Xavi add the decoration - but Busquets' consistent brilliance forms the foundations of this Barcelona midfield.

Every team is grateful to its 'water-carriers', as Eric Cantona once dubbed Didier Deschamps, but with Busquets in this form, Barcelona could be heading towards the champagne come the end of the season.

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