Failed Messi Penalty Could Be ‘What If’ Moment

If Barcelona fail to secure their eighth consecutive Champions League quarter-final appearance, Lionel Messi’s failed penalty at Manchester City on Tuesday could well prove their “what if” moment.
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Barca were leading 2-1 in the last 16, first leg at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a Luis Suarez brace when Messi stepped up to take an added-time spot kick.
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City goalkeeper Joe Hart denied the Argentina captain and gave the Premier League side a much better chance of overturning the deficit in the second leg at the Nou Camp on March 18.
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Messi has a penalty record any player would envy, with a success rate of around 90 percent, but his fluffed effort brought back memories of a missed spot kick early in the second half of Barca’s semi-final, second leg at home to Chelsea in April 2012.
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The teams were level at 2-2 on aggregate when Messi smashed his effort against the crossbar and a late Fernando Torres goal sealed Chelsea’s progress to the final where they beat Bayern Munich after a shootout.
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Despite Tuesday’s setback, Barca should have more than enough quality to see off City and midfielder Andres Iniesta said the 2-1 away success was a “very good” result for the La Liga giants, who bounced back from a surprise defeat to Malaga at the weekend.
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Barca won 2-0 at City at the same stage last season, before winning the return 2-1.
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“We should focus on the positive sensations we are taking away from the match,” Iniesta told reporters.
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“We dominated for a good length of time and the team did some great work,” added the Spain international.
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“For the penalty, even if Messi had scored it the tie would in no way have been over.
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“The return leg will be an open game. When everything appears lost you are even more dangerous and we have to be on our guard at the Nou Camp.”
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Barca, who still have a chance of repeating 2009’s treble of Spanish league and Cup and Champions League, have little time to relax, with four matches before City’s visit.
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They host Granada in La Liga on Saturday, take a 3-1 lead to Villarreal for the second leg of their King’s Cup semi-final on March 4 and then have La Liga games against Rayo Vallecano and Eibar.