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Football

Barcelona secure top group spot

Neymar scored a spectacular goal as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Paris St-Germain at the Nou Camp and finish top of Group F.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave PSG the lead with a low finish from 10 yards after being teed up by Blaise Matuidi.

But Barcelona equalised through Lionel Messi, his 75th goal in the competition coming after Luis Suarez's low cross.

Neymar's sublime 25-yard finish and Suarez's close-range effort sealed PSG's fate, but they still go through.

Neymar's goal was a wonderful effort, the Brazil striker bursting away from the PSG defence before producing a dipping, swerving shot from distance that flew past Salvatore Sirigu.

Then in the second half Sirigu parried Neymar's shot and former Liverpool star Suarez pounced to score his second goal since moving to Spain.

The victory means Barcelona have finished top of their Champions League group for the eighth season in a row.

However, the French side missed several good chances and their profligacy resulted in their first Ligue 1 or Champions League defeat of the season.

PSG striker Edinson Cavani also had a shot cleared off the line by Barcelona defender Marc Bartra.

Group F

 

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

GD

Points

Barcelona

6

5

0

1

+10

15

Paris St-Germain

6

4

1

1

3

13

Ajax

6

1

2

3

-2

5

Apoel Nicosia

6

0

1

5

-11

1

"We have improved as a group a lot," said Uruguay striker Suarez.

"We know that together we can go places, and that's what we're doing."

Barcelona finish with 15 points from six games, two more than Paris-St Germain, who will be unseeded in next Monday's last-16 draw.

PSG head coach Laurent Blanc praised Barcelona's finishing.

"The best players don't need much to convert a tiny chance into a goal,'' he said.

"That is what happened for Barcelona's first two goals.''

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored five goals in his last four appearances

Barcelona v Paris St-Germain

Lionel Messi now has 75 Champions League goals, three more than closest rival Cristiano Ronaldo

Barcelona v Paris St-Germain

Neymar has scored three goals in this season's Champions League

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez's two goals for Barcelona have both come in the Champions League

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.