Messi misses penalty! Enrique backs him

Lionel Messi with a rare failure as Joe Hart saves his late penalty before the Barcelona star misses rebound

The Barcelona superstar had the chance to put Manchester City to bed when Pablo Zabaleta inexplicably brought him down in the box in the game’s final moments.

But the Argentine’s penalty attempt was not just saved brilliantly by Joe Hart; the No.10 put the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.

“It was a very important save, firstly because it was not a necessary penalty as we must control our emotions in the box, but also it would have been very difficult at 3-1,” said City boss Manuel Pellegrini afterwards.

“If we go to Barcelona and play in the way we normally do, like we did in the second half, then we will have chances.

“If we play in the way we can play, we can do it. I must repeat though, that we cannot continue making the same mistakes and getting people sent off, as we had Martin Demichelis sent off when we played Barcelona here last year.”

It’s the third penalty he hasn’t converted this season – also missing against Levante and Brazil. That’s five from his last 10 in all competitions for club and country, including missing four of his last seven for Barcelona. But his coach says those “who miss penalties are those who dare to take them”.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique said: “We are very pleased with the result. Penalties are for those who dare to step up and Leo Messi is our penalty taker without a doubt. The tie is still open and against an opponent of this quality we must not relax. The aim is to head into the return leg with confidence.”