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Neymar at the double as Barcelona ease through

FC Barcelona 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain (agg: 5-1)
Neymar scored twice in the opening 34 minutes as Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals in eye-catching style.

See how Barcelona beat Paris to make semi-finals

Neymar scores twice in the first half to take his competition tally to six this term
Barcelona through to the last four for the seventh time in eight seasons
The Catalan club stretch unbeaten run to 13 games, 12 of them wins
Exclusive behind-the-scenes photography from Barcelona and Munich
The semi-final draw takes place in Nyon from 12.00CET on Friday

FC Barcelona are through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in eight seasons after another scintillating display against Paris Saint-Germain.

Outstanding last week as they opened up a 3-1 first-leg lead in the French capital, Luis Enrique's men picked up where they left off. While Paris were hurried whenever they had possession, the Catalan club looked to have all the time in the world to run the visitors' back line ragged. Two goals from Neymar – the first a peach – meant the job was done by the 34th minute. From then on it was energy preservation, Barcelona-style.

"It's practically impossible not to concede against Barcelona," Laurent Blanc said on the eve of this quarter-final decider; he probably had ambitions of holding out for longer than 14 minutes, though. It was a wonderful goal, stemming from a poor Javier Mascherano pass right outside the home box. Jordi Alba was aware, getting to the ball just ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimović; it was the cue for Andrés Iniesta.

The 30-year-old has had a difficult season relatively speaking, but this was him at his best. Facing his own goal, he turned past the first Paris challenge and set off, all quick feet and alert body. Two more opponents were shown a clean pair of heels and the crowd rose en masse. With Neymar racing into space, Iniesta slid in a perfectly weighted pass which the Brazilian took around Salvatore Sirigu and prodded in.

Neymar: I've nothing against PSG

It was a feature of what became a vintage first-half performance from Iniesta, the midfield metronome dictating Barcelona's beat. It was a measure both of his importance and of his team's position in the tie that he was withdrawn at the break: Xavi Hernández was not a bad replacement. By then it was 2-0 and all but over after the somewhat rarer sight of a left-footed Daniel Alves cross, headed in by Neymar.

Ibrahimović could only dream of that kind of service, cutting an isolated figure at the other end. He got more company after the restart as Barça relinquished their stranglehold, their relentless pressing. Marco Verratti ought to have done better with an opening early in the second period and there were 73 minutes on the clock when Marc-André ter Stegen was finally called into action by Ibrahimović.

For Paris there is always next year; Barcelona, down to the last four and in fine fettle, are looking no further than the next six weeks.

Lionel Messi arrives at the Camp Nou ahead of the second leg
Lionel Messi arrives at the Camp Nou ahead of the second leg©Getty Images
Back from suspension, Zlatan Ibrahimović gets in the thick of it early on
Back from suspension, Zlatan Ibrahimović gets in the thick of it early on©Getty Images
Neymar rounds Salvatore Sirigu before side-footing in the opening goal
Neymar rounds Salvatore Sirigu before side-footing in the opening goal©Getty Images
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique holds his hands aloft as his side open a 4-1 aggregate lead
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique holds his hands aloft as his side open a 4-1 aggregate lead©Getty Images
Camera phones at the ready as Neymar celebrates his first of the evenin
Camera phones at the ready as Neymar celebrates his first of the evenin©AFP/Getty Images
Blaise Matuidi forces Jordi Alba in to defensive action as Paris seek a way back
Blaise Matuidi forces Jordi Alba in to defensive action as Paris seek a way back©AFP/Getty Images
Neymar rises above Marquinhos and Gregory van der Wiel to make it 2-0
Neymar rises above Marquinhos and Gregory van der Wiel to make it 2-0©Getty Images
Scorer and provider celebrate as Neymar leaps onto Daniel Alves's back
Scorer and provider celebrate as Neymar leaps onto Daniel Alves's back©Getty Images
The Brazilians reluctantly pose for the cameras
The Brazilians reluctantly pose for the cameras©AFP/Getty Images
Marco Verratti is forced into defensive action with a tackle on Lionel Messi
Marco Verratti is forced into defensive action with a tackle on Lionel Messi©AFP/Getty Images
It just was not Marco Verratti's night
It just was not Marco Verratti's night©Getty Images

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