well this wonderful city offers to visitors so much including football barcelona of course
my name is derek ray with me in the commentary position is the arsenal legend lee dixon
and this is where it all starts in the uefa champions league the group stage
and match day one my goodness so much to look forward to
i certainly can't wait for this one lee yeah it's very important that you're not playing catch up
in the group stages match day one imperative you get off to a good start
this is what we expect from the black runner wing backs are important on this set up did you enjoy
your experience of playing at league not at all under bruce rock it's a very very demanding role
as we can see the fullbacks are exposed both offensively and defensively lots of support
inside them but going forward they need to try and get the ball into the box for the two up front
this is the lineup for the visitors today but as a team they do have their stylistic preference
and it really is all about trying to put the opposition under pressure making sure
that they don't compose themselves lee do you expect to see more of that in this game yeah
pretty much they love to press eye don't they it's their preferred style of play winning the
ball high up the pitch it certainly benefits their strikers they're very good at it missy
all night on he goes mares now with messi could cross it in here busquets de young
defy not getting anxious when they have the ball jordi alba
now busquets
messi how to play it goes he was under a bit of pressure
federico quiesa the room to roam on the wing has plenty of know-how in the ball shielding
department in behind for him to chase he's in here oh it might be oh that was a terrific stop in a
one versus one situation well high fives all round for the goalkeeper absolutely fantastic
and deciding to go short for this one another corner conceded what can they do with this one
but he's gone short with it
bentancur
he might yet finish
getting in there to take it away
this attack looks highly promising
keolini
danilo so hard to overcome jordi alba being pressed hard
morata it did appear that they might be on to something but not so
and it's a quality pass
oh a tremendous block not covering up defensively
well that takes the wind out of their sails great defending
it's with dybala dybala and barcelona have possession again
promising move from barcelona busquets
now messi splendid defending and it needed to be and offside it is
possession changes hands the interception there
have the ball once more must take the lead here can they keep it out
still pushing for that goal that would see them forge ahead
well the first 45 minutes have come and gone here in catalonia
and so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
federico on the ball marasa
well they get the ball once more rodrado very alert defending to put a stop to the chance
and good pressure high up the pitch
teammate and support
busquets
now jordi alba
aguero now messi it did look on for them but not to be aguero depay now messi wonderful block
danilo
really getting stuck in
making the substitution here
artur that's plenty of know-how in the ball shielding department
goodbye an unforced arrow you've got to say
measured ball intended for cuadrado strong play here danilo
both managers deciding this is the time to change things around both teams going to the bench
the ball winners
federico bernardeschi
and with play stop they will make the change now
mares they've regained possession another defending not the best here
options in the middle bernardeschi just again what to say goodness oh
that's brilliant use every part of your body to save the ball doesn't matter
played into the center of the box well he read the flight of the ball
brilliantly but just couldn't quite keep it down narrowly over the bar
five minutes remaining and level pegging here
frankie deyoung another certainly thinking about a winner might be a chance here still alive
and it goes and the second time of asking and the keeper feels hung out to dry
oh we see it again here derrick he's a bit unlucky to be fair
i feel for him a bit he's just fallen in the wrong place and he pays the ultimate
price
what a big moment in the dying embers will it prove decisive here
i'm taking into account all the stoppages two minutes to be added on
federico bernardeschi
so full time it is and the morale boosting three points on the board to begin the european campaign
yeah really really strong start that's what you need but with five games to go very important
you stay in the now one game at a time derrick bit of a cliche positive as far as santiaguero
is concerned you've got to say lee what did you see from the argentinian tonight well he did
have a good performance didn't he but it's all about snatching that late goal to grab the win