#30 - Miracles

Everyone who lives at our house - dog or human is an FC Barcelona fan!  We did make an exception for Johnny who is a Real Madrid fan but that is a long story! 

This morning when I took a picture of Guide Dog #30 all decked out in Barca gear,  I imagined that I would be doing a 'we love FC Barcelona anyway" kind of post.  Today's game was a Champion's League game, our 2nd in what is called the Round of 16.  In this stage of the competition you play an opponent twice, once at home and once away. The scores of the two games are added together and 'away' goals are given more weight.  A couple of weeks ago our beloved Barça was thoroughly trounced by Paris St. Germain in Paris with a score of 4-0.  The worst defeat that the team has suffered in years. 

In order to win today and advance to the quarter finals, Barcelona had to win 5-0.  If PSG scored a goal today (it would be an away goal since the game was played in Barcelona) then Barca would need to win 6-1.  Clear as mud????

Today's game was a thriller!  Luis Suarez scored within the first 3 minutes.  By half time it was 2-0 and then soon after it was 3-0 thanks to none other than Messi.  PSG put in a beautiful goal to make it 3-1 (3-5 combined scores from the two games...and now PSG had the all important away goal).  I was sure it was over.  I had been watching on my phone while I was volunteering at Guide Dogs and then running errands.  I decided to relax and watch something else on TV when I got home and the score was 3-1 in the 80th minute.   No way could FC Barcelona score 3 goals in 10 minutes.

Boy was I wrong!  Neymar scored with 2 minutes left in regulation time.  Now it was 4-1! Next he scored off a penalty in the final minute.   Aggregate score tied at 5-5 but the away goal meant that Barça needed one more!  Five minutes of extra time added and Barça delivered!  Everyone went forward, including the goal keeper.  Again it was Neymar who delivered a perfect ball into the box for young Sergi Roberto to finish!  Winning goal was in the extra time at the 94th minute; almost the last kick of the game! 6-1!  Barça advanced into the quarter finals.

Sergi Roberto hadn't scored in more than a year!  What a night to put one in the net! 

What a game!  What a turn around!  First time any team has advanced after a 4-0 defeat away from home! Making history!  I love my Barça boys!