Barcelona qualified for the last-16 stage of the Champions League as Group B winners courtesy of a 2-1 success away to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.
The Spanish champions had already booked their spot in the first knockout round ahead of kickoff, but sealed first spot in the section with second-half goals from Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
7.02pmGood evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Champions League Group B clash between PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona. Barcelona will be looking to seal first position in Group B against a PSV side who still have hopes of taking third spot in the section. Barcelona have already qualified for the knockout round of the competition with two games to spare but are just three points clear of second-placed Inter Milan, who will travel to Tottenham Hotspur tonight.
7.04pmTonight will be the eighth time that PSV and Barcelona have locked horns in European competition. Barcelona have won three of the previous seven, with PSV claiming just one victory. Aside from earlier this season, the last time that the two teams met was during the 1997-98 competition, and both games finished 2-2. They also locked horns in both the quarter-finals of the 1995-96 UEFA Cup and semi-finals of the 1977-78 UEFA Cup. Barcelona progressed from the former tie, but the latter saw PSV claim a 4-3 aggregate win.
7.06pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Eindhoven. Let's have a look at the two XIs that will start this European affair...
7.08pmTEAMS!
PSV: Zoet; Dumfries, Schwaab, Viergever, Angelino; Rosario, Hendrix, Pereiro; Lozano, De Jong, Bergwijn
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Lenglet, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal; Coutinho, Messi, Dembele
7.10pmSamuel Umtiti is a late withdrawal for Barcelona...
❗ In yesterday's training session the first team player Samuel Umtiti felt discomfort in his left knee and will miss today's game pic.twitter.com/2nI3ZafKJs
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 28, 2018
7.12pmNo surprises in the PSV side tonight. Hirving Lozano, who has 13 goals this term, will once again be joined by Luuk de Jong and Steven Bergwijn in the final third of the field. De Jong has 15 goals in all competitions this season, while the latter has six goals and seven assists. Jorrit Hendrix, Pablo Rosario and Gaston Pereiro, meanwhile, will start in midfield for the home side.
7.14pmAs for Barcelona, Sergi Roberto and Rafinha both picked up injuries during the clash with Atletico Madrid at the weekend. The former could be back in a month, but the latter requires knee surgery on a torn ACL. As a result, Nelson Semedo will continue at right-back, with Thomas Vermaelen still on the treatment table. There will also be no Luis Suarez for the Spanish champions, with the striker left out of the squad as he requires treatment on a knee problem which could keep him out for two weeks. Philippe Coutinho is back from a hamstring problem, however, and he joins Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi in the final third.
7.16pm
📍PSV Stadion
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 28, 2018
💙❤ Barça Fans
⚽#PSVBarça pic.twitter.com/PoXRe3Hgpy
7.18pmBarcelona's 1-1 draw at Inter earlier this month saw the Spanish champions book their spot in the knockout round of the Champions League, and they currently sit top of Group B on 10 points. Inter are three points behind in second, meaning that a win for Barcelona in this match would be enough to secure first position in the section.
7.20pmBarcelona followed their 4-0 win over PSV on matchday one with victories away to Tottenham and at home to Inter, before collecting the point at San Siro last time out. The Catalan outfit are looking to win their section for a record 20th time, and they have actually finished top of their group in each of the last 11 seasons. Can the Spanish champions seal first spot once again?
7.22pmBarcelona have reached at least the quarter-finals of the Champions League in each of the last 11 years, but they famously lost to Italian side Roma in last season's final eight and have not actually won the competition since 2015. Indeed, the La Liga giants have had to sit back and watch rivals Real Madrid land three straight European crowns.
7.24pm
Messi, Meeeessi, Meeeeessi...
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 28, 2018
♥ Barça fans#PSVBarça pic.twitter.com/3x642IE1Vw
7.26pmThe Spanish champions have actually won just six of their last 18 away matches in the Champions League, meanwhile, drawing six and losing the other six. They have also lost four of their last 11, and are actually without a victory in their last three in all competitions entering this one.
7.28pmIndeed, Barcelona were knocked off top spot in La Liga at the weekend after drawing 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. Ernesto Valverde's side were far from their best in Madrid, but Ousmane Dembele came off the bench to cancel out a header from Diego Costa. Dembele has been heavily criticised in recent weeks, but the France international starts tonight.
7.30pmBarcelona have lost just one of their seven European games with PSV, however, and that defeat was back in 1978. The Catalan giants will certainly be confident of sealing first spot in the section ahead of their final Group B game at home to Tottenham, which could be huge for the Premier League club. Kickoff in Eindhoven is now just about 30 minutes away here.
7.32pm
🔙⚽ Last time we played 🆚 PSV... 😏 pic.twitter.com/l25T0rgOIQ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 28, 2018
7.34pmPSV's hopes of reaching the knockout round of the competition are over, with the Dutch giants picking up just one point from their four Group B matches to sit bottom of the section. They can still finish in third, however, which would see them continue their European journey for the 2018-19 campaign in the Europa League.
7.36pmPSV suffered a 4-0 defeat when they travelled to Barcelona in their first group match, and they have only picked up a single point from their three games since. Indeed, sandwiched between 2-1 defeats to Inter and Tottenham was a 2-2 draw against the Premier League club in Eindhoven.
7.38pmIt was always going to be difficult for PSV to finish in the top two positions, but a win against Barcelona tonight would make a Europa League spot a real possibility, although other results would still have to go their way. Just a reminder that Inter visit Tottenham tonight.
7.40pm
The boys are in the building 🏟#PSVBAR pic.twitter.com/BpAvSgjiYa
— PSV (@PSV) November 28, 2018
7.42pmDutch champions for the 24th time last season, PSV will enter this match off the back of 3-0 win over Heerenveen in the league at the weekend. Mark van Bommel's side lead the Eredivisie by five points from second-placed Ajax and have incredibly won all 13 of their league matches this term. Tonight, however, is a different level entirely.
7.44pmThis is the 16th season that PSV have been in the group stages of the Champions League, but they have only reached the knockout round on four occasions, most recently in the 2015-16 season.
7.46pmPSV have won just four of their 14 home games with Spanish opposition in European football, meanwhile, losing two of their last four. This will be the first time that they have welcomed Barcelona to Eindhoven since December 1997, when the pair played out a 2-2 draw in the group stages.
7.48pm
Kitted out for our #UCL clash!#PSVBAR pic.twitter.com/u7evIZD1xQ
— PSV International (@psveindhoven) November 28, 2018
7.50pmThere will once again be eyes on the talented Hirving Lozano tonight. The in-demand forward has scored 13 times in all competitions this season, including one goal in the Champions League. His stock will rise further with a strong performance against Barcelona here.
7.52pmPREDICTION! PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Barcelona. It would not be a surprise to see the points shared in Eindhoven, but we fancy Barcelona to have enough to claim their fourth Group B win.
7.54pmJust a reminder of the two teams for this match...
PSV (4-3-3): Zoet; Dumfries, Schwaab, Viergever, Angelino; Rosario, Hendrix, Pereiro; Lozano, De Jong, Bergwijn
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Lenglet, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal; Coutinho, Messi, Dembele
7.56pm
SQUAD.
— PSV (@PSV) November 28, 2018
How much ♥ for this team?#PSVBAR pic.twitter.com/fxccW7EGuZ
7.58pmHere we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff in Eindhoven. Let's hope for an entertaining game of football from the Netherlands.
0 minKICKOFF: Barcelona kick things off in Eindhoven...
2 min... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. PSV can no longer finish in the top two positions, but can still grab a Europa League spot in the group.
4 minNot too much to report in the opening four minutes, although Barcelona have been in charge of the possession. Messi is playing through the middle for the visitors tonight.
4 minPSV have a free kick in a dangerous area as Busquets chops Lozano to the deck...
4 minSAVE! ... super save from Ter Stegen to keep out the free kick from Pereiro!
6 minPSV are on the front foot at the moment as they continue to use the ball well here.
8 minPSV are winning the middle battle at the moment, with Pereiro, Hendrix and Rosario all getting on the ball. There surely has to be a yellow card coming here as Vidal is the latest player to commit a high challenge. Busquets is already fortunate to not be in the referee's book here.
10 minDembele shows excellent pace to break clear in a wide position, but his cross does not find a teammate. The resulting corner from the visitors is played short before being cleared.
12 minJust a few signs that Barcelona are getting to grips with this match as they dominate the ball. Coutinho has been bright for the Spanish champions on his return from a hamstring problem.
14 minLozano breaks clear in a wide position before delivering towards Bergwijn, but the attacker is crowded out at the vital moment. Still goalless with 14 minutes on the clock here.
16 minOFF THE POST! Pereiro strikes the post from outside the Barcelona box following another defensive mistake from the away side. So close to PSV taking the lead here!
18 minCLOSE! Coutinho misses the PSV post with a curling effort from outside the box.
20 minPossession football for Barcelona at the moment as they pass and probe.
22 minNo score in the group's other match tonight, with Inter Milan still level at Tottenham Hotspur. Both teams in Eindhoven will have a keen eye on what happens at Wembley tonight.
24 minPereiro's early free kick which tested Ter Stegen...
© Reuters
26 minLozano and Bergwijn continue to impress for PSV, with the attacking pair not giving Barcelona's defence a moment to settle. The home side have been very dangerous here.
26 minCHANCE! Huge chance for Pereiro once again as the PSV midfielder finds himself free inside the Barcelona box, but he just hooks the ball over the crossbar!
26 minYELLOW CARD! Hendrix (PSV) is booked for a foul on Dembele.
29 minLittle over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and PSV should be ahead at this stage. Not too much from Barcelona in the final third of the field, but it only takes a moment.
31 minQuite a scrappy game at the moment with a series of late challenges. Just the one yellow card, but I suspect that will rise. The latest foul has just seen Messi deliver a free kick into the PSV box, but Zoet was on hand to collect. Still goalless with 31 minutes on the clock.
33 minVidal strikes towards the PSV goal, but Schwaab makes the block before Angelino clears. Barcelona are just squeezing high up the field at the moment, which is leaving space behind.
35 minPique has to chop Bergwijn to the deck as the PSV attacker continues to impress here. The resulting free kick from Lozano is poor though, and Barcelona resume with a goal kick.
36 minSHOT! Coutinho sees a shot deflected wide of the PSV post by his own man Vidal.
36 minOFF THE LINE! Super defending from Rosario, who clears a Vidal effort off the line!
36 minOFF THE LINE! Vidal then sees a header cleared off the line by Angelino!
38 minBarcelona are on the front foot at the moment as they chase a goal before the break.
40 minSHOT! Messi strikes wide of the post from distance as Barcelona threaten again.
40 minSAVE! Smart save from Zoet to keep out a strike from Messi.
42 minBarcelona continue to take chances at the back, but PSV are yet to make them pay. Some of the defending from the Spanish champions tonight has been very strange indeed.
42 minDembele sees a strike blocked following excellent work from Messi.
43 minSAVE! Another save from Zoet to keep out an effort from Messi.
44 minOFF THE BAR! Incredible! Huge chance for PSV as De Jong rises to meet a deep free kick, but his header hits the crossbar. Dumfries then somehow does not convert from close range!
45+1 minHALF TIME: PSV EINDHOVEN 0-0 BARCELONA
8.48pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level, but that does not begin to tell the story of the first 45 minutes. Both teams have had excellent chances to register, but somehow we are level. More of the same in the second half please!
8.53pmSTATISTICS! Barcelona had 69% of the ball in the first period, but only hit the target with two of their 10 attempts, which is not the best conversion rate. PSV, meanwhile, hit the target with four of their eight attempts. Just the one yellow card to report - Hendrix in the 25th minute.
8.58pmBENCH WATCH! Alena, Munir El Haddadi, Malcolm and Denis Suarez are among those on the Barcelona bench tonight. Meanwhile, PSV have options in the shape of Malen, Romero and Gutierrez. I should not imagine that there will be any changes at the interval though.
46 minKICKOFF: PSV resume the action on home soil...
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.
49 minNot too much to report in the early stages of the second period, but Barcelona are dominating the ball. You do get the feeling that the first goal would be absolutely vital here.
50 minSAVE! Another good save from Zoet to keep out a powerful Messi strike!
52 minBoth teams are defending well at the moment as attacks are thwarted at both ends.
54 minPossession football for PSV at the moment as they take the sting out of Barcelona's attack. Just a reminder that a win for Barcelona tonight would see them secure first spot in the group.
55 minSAVE! Smart save from Ter Stegen to keep out a strike from Hendrix.
57 minLittle over 30 minutes of this match remaining, and we are still level at 0-0. It has been a very even game up until this point, and one goal might well be enough to secure all the points.
59 minStill no movement on either bench, but we are entering the stage where both managers will be considering alterations. PSV will feel that they have an excellent chance of winning this.
59 minCLOSE! Rosario sees a strike deflected wide of the post.
61 minGOAL! PSV EINDHOVEN 0-1 BARCELONA (MESSI)
62 minBreakthrough! Barcelona take the lead just past the hour as Messi works some space inside the PSV box before finding the back of the net out of nothing! Some goal!
64 minIt is a big moment in this football match, and PSV have to now respond here.
65 minCLOSE! Rakitic just misses the crossbar with a strike from inside the box!
67 minSAVE! Zoet saves from Dembele. All Barcelona at the moment here!
69 minYou do get the feeling that there is another goal in this match, with PSV still committing a lot of players forward. Barcelona will fancy their chances of netting on the counter here.
70 minGOAL! PSV EINDHOVEN 0-2 BARCELONA (PIQUE)
71 minMight well be game, set and match here. Barcelona have their second of the night as Pique steers a Messi free kick into the back of the net. Excellent finish from the defender!
71 minPSV SUBS! Malen and Gutierrez replace Pereiro and Hendrix here.
73 minMight well be more goals in this for Barcelona as PSV have really lost their shape here.
74 minCLOSE! Malcom just turns a low Dembele cross wide of the post!
76 minCHANCE! So close for PSV as Lozano finds Bergwijn, and his effort is just wide!
76 minCHANCE! Another huge chance for Lozano, but the Mexican fires straight at Ter Stegen. PSV really should be in this match with 15 minutes left to play in Eindhoven.
79 minPSV SUB! Bergwijn is replaced by Romero for the home side.
80 minBARCELONA SUB! Denis Suarez replaces Dembele.
83 minGOAL! PSV EINDHOVEN 1-2 BARCELONA (DE JONG)
84 minLifeline for PSV! The home side are right back in this football match as De Jong finds the back of the net with a header from an Angelino cross!
84 minYELLOW CARD! De Jong (PSV) is booked for kicking the ball away.
86 minStill more than enough time for PSV to find an equaliser in this match.
86 minYELLOW CARD! Alba (Barcelona) is booked for wasting time.
88 minPSV are the team on the front foot as we head for the final moments here.
89 minCLOSE! Gutierrez sees his strike deflected just wide of the Barcelona post.
89 minCHANCE! Huge chance for Barcelona as Messi frees Malcom, but he fires over!
90+1 minWe are into the first of four minutes of additional time here.
90+3 minTime is running out for PSV as Barcelona continue to clear their lines.
90+4 minYELLOW CARD! Pique (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on De Jong.
90+5 minFULL TIME: PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Barcelona
9.52pmSo there we have it. Barcelona run out 2-1 winners over PSV to top the section! PSV can no longer qualify for the Europa League, but they were very unfortunate to lose tonight. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage of the action. Until next time!
