Great save from Ter Stegen! The German goalkeeper gets a strong right hand up to deny APOEL a goal on the break! He's done well to stay alert! Manduca was the man denied!
90'
Fantastic defending from APOEL! Neymar shoots from deep in the penalty area, forcing Pardo to make a save with his legs, before Mario Sergio gets across to slide in brilliantly to poke the loose ball away from the lurking Messi!
89'
Messi scampers into the box yet again, but this time the Argentine is denied by a brilliant block from Carlao! Barcelona maintain their pressure, but APOEL look able to keep the scoreline under control.
88'
Sandro fires wide! After a patient move, the ball finds its way into the feet of the substitute, who turns smartly and drives towards goal! He shoots from 20 yards, worrying Pardo, but the Spaniard's effort whistles beyond the far upright!
87'
APOEL win a late corner, with plenty of yellow shirts committed forward. Rafinha heads away impressively, before Charalambides' second ball back into the box sails out for a goal-kick.
85'
Only five minutes are now left on the clock. Both coaches have made their three designated substitutions, leaving it down to their current elevens to battle it out. Barcelona continue to search for the elusive second goal, with the away side still content to sit deep and frustrate.
83'
Samper tries to pick out Sandro with a speculative through ball, but Pardo is very quick out of his area to get rid of the danger. It's testament to APOEL's solid defending that they still have a chance of stealing a point so late in the game.
81'
We're into the final ten minutes with the Camp Nou crowd still urging their team forward, but perhaps a little nervously! APOEL have shown that they have the athletes required to continue to counter until the very last.
79'
K. Charalambidis enters the game and replaces T. De Vincenti.
Rafinha enters the game and replaces Sergi Roberto.
Rafinha replaces Sergi Roberto for Barcelona, with the former Celta Vigo player having the creativity and pace required to prosper in a game filled with tiring opposition legs. De Vincenti is replaced by Charalambidis for the remaining ten minutes, as Donis continues to replenish the energy within his forward line.
78'
APOEL are still in this game, with Barcelona unable to find the killer goal to knock the belief out of Donis' men. Manduca scampers down the right before picking out De Vincenti on the edge of the penalty area, but the Argentine gets his angles all wrong and sends his shot swerving wide.
Minute
Description
76'
Sandro drives down the right channel well, but Carlao comes across firmly and confidently to defuse the situation and shepherd the ball out of play. The Brazilian has been solid at the heart of APOEL's defence.
75'
R. Djebbour enters the game and replaces C. Sheridan.
Messi looks to have been given the perfect opportunity to shoot in a pocket of space on the edge of the box, but the Argentine fails to let fly! He dances beautifully past two outstretched legs, but his eventual clipped cross is too heavy for anyone to meet it at the back post.
73'
Iniesta whips a free-kick delivery in towards the back post, but Pardo is more than happy to permit the ball to sail behind for a goal-kick. The second half has been very, very low on quality, with clear cut chances very thin on the ground.
71'
APOEL now have less than 20 minutes to find their opening goal, though Donis may continue to lean towards damage limitation. If the visitors allow the floodgates to open, this could be any scoreline, with so many Blaugrana shirts flowing forward at every given opportunity.
69'
Sandro Ramírez enters the game and replaces M. El Haddadi.
That's actually Munir's last contribution, with the teenager replaced by Sandro Ramirez. Neymar streaks down the left, breaking into the box, but Mario Sergio slides in brilliantly to turn the ball behind for a corner - which Barcelona fail to capitalise upon.
68'
OFFSIDE! Dani Alves clips a back post cross towards Neymar, who fails to direct his header inside the far post, meaning that Munir has to interfere! He nods home from a few yards out, but the linesman's flag is rightfully raised, denying him his first Champions League goal.
67'
Pardo is forced into a comfortable save from Neymar, after another encouraging move from Barca. They've controlled the game, but remain at risk of conceding a late equaliser if they can't find a second goal to kill off the contest.
66'
The referee ignores what looked to be a risky challenge from Vinicius, as the yellow-carded midfielder seemed to clip the heels of Neymar when the Barcelona man was in full flight. There's activity on the hosts' bench once again, as Enrique looks to switch things up again.
64'
Vital clearance from Dani Alves! The Brazil international is present at the back post to hoof Manduca's cross behind for a corner! Two yellow shirts were queued up behind the former Sevilla man! APOEL deliver, but Ter Stegen punches the danger away!
63'
Carlao makes two important interventions within the space of ten seconds, denying a Messi cross before recovering moments later to slide in and dispossess Munir as the youngster drifted to the byline. Barcelona win a corner as a result, but Nuno Morais heads clear.
61'
Gustavo Manduca enters the game and replaces Tiago Gomes.
Andrés Iniesta enters the game and replaces Xavi.
Tiago Gomes is replaced by Gustavo Manduca for the away side, as Donis also attempts to freshen his side's efforts up. Half an hour remains for APOEL to find an equaliser, with the Cypriot side presumably growing in confidence with every goalless minute that passes for Barcelona.
60'
Both coaches opt to make changes, with Andres Iniesta replacing Xavi for the hosts to give them a bit more drive in midfield - being given the captain's armband in the process. APOEL's substitution is still in the pipeline, however.
58'
Huge chance for APOEL! The visitors win a corner, after Bartra makes a vital block to deny an opportunity stemming from three yellow shirts finding space at the back post, but it comes to nothing! Ter Stegen was wrong-footed, with the Spanish defender's intervention saving the hosts!
57'
Neymar ghosts in behind Mario Sergio at the back post once again, looking to get on the end of another Xavi diagonal pass, but the former Santos forward is unable to get the contact required to fire across goal on the volley! A half chance spurned!
55'
Neymar tries to wriggle his way past several yellow shirts on the edge of the box, but Vinicius robs the Brazilian of the ball brilliantly. Moments later, Messi tries a similar run from the opposite flank, but captain Nuno Morais steals possession from the Argentine as he shaped to shoot.
53'
This second half is certainly a slow-burner, with no real chances for either side. Tiago Gomes tries to break down the right-hand side for APOEL, but Samper covers across brilliantly to deny the wide man.
51'
Samper tries to clip a pass over the visiting back four for Neymar to chase, but Pardo is quick off his line to smother the ball. APOEL are camped on the edge of their box, but Barcelona are unable to break them down at the moment. Munir is especially quiet, as the youngster is struggling to find space.
50'
Barcelona continue to keep the ball moving, with Samper epitomising his side's current approach. Nothing too fancy, with the hosts content to retain possession and force APOEL to press. Gaps aren't forthcoming for the Blaugrana to exploit.
48'
Xavi tries to hook a cross to the back post for Neymar, but Mario Sergio puts in an important header to deny the Brazilian. APOEL are persevering with their two banks of four, which has thus far served Donis' men well.
47'
Munir goes down under the challenge of Carlao in the APOEL penalty area, but it would have been incredibly harsh to award the hosts with a penalty. Enrique's men are starting the second half as they finished the first, controlling possession well.
46'
We are back underway in the second half! Barcelona have the lead, but won't be comfortable until they're a few goals to the good - especially with APOEL stubbornly keeping two strikers up top.
45'
Pique and Bartra stretch to meet the set piece, but the latter can't stretch the sinews of his neck enough to turn the delivery home. There is only one minute of stoppage time.
44'
Two more scrappy fouls from either side fracture the flow of the game, as this contest continues to not be too easy on the eye. Neymar breaks into the penalty area yet again, however, before the Brazilian's shot is deflected behind for a corner.
42'
As the interval approaches, Enrique will want his side to close things out, rather than risk conceding and giving APOEL unneeded confidence. Ter Stegen has had a very easy evening thus far, with the former Gladbach keeper only asked to come off his line on a couple of occasions.
40'
Pardo denies Messi! The Argentine sets Neymar away down the left, before the former Santos man stops the ball dead and tees up his teammate once again. Messi takes one touch before mustering up a powerful left-footed strike from 16 yards, but the goalkeeper palms it away!
38'
Enrique's system's pressing is proving successful, with APOEL forced into mistakes or back to their goalkeeper regularly. It has become a slightly scrappy game in the last ten minutes, with fouls and misplaced passes aplenty.
36'
APOEL continue to struggle to break out of their besieged half, with Barcelona having all of the purposeful passages of play and possession. Sheridan and De Vincenti still stubbornly prowl along the hosts' back four, but the duo aren't getting any service.
34'
Narrowly over ten minutes remain until the break, with yet another Barcelona player left sprawled on the turf. Samper is the man pole-axed on this occasion, after the youngster was sandwiched in between Sergi Roberto and Morais.
32'
Adriano cuts back a cross from the left flank, which Mario Sergio blocks unintentionally with his lowered arm. The crowd half-heartedly claim for a penalty, but rightfully the referee waves play on. He couldn't get out of the way of that!
30'
With half an hour on the clock, Enrique will be pleased with how his side have applied themselves thus far. Ter Stegen has been untested, with Neymar and Messi able to contribute regularly from wide areas. The hosts' system continues to work well, even with a much-changed midfield trio.
28'
Piqué has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
GOOOOOOOOAL! PIQUE GIVES BARCELONA THE LEAD! The Spain international rises well at the near post to steer a powerful header inside the upright! It's a well-worked free-kick delivery from Messi, whose delivery invites a host of Blaugrana players to apply the finishing touch.
27'
M. Antoniades gets yellow.
Dani Alves goes down rather heavily under a poor challenge from Antoniades, earning the left-back a yellow card. The Brazil international looks to be in considerable pain, after clashing knees with the APOEL man, with Douglas immediately out to warm up.
25'
Ter Stegen is quick off his line to head away a dangerous APOEL through ball, which Aloneftis has the intention of turning home, earning him the applause of the home fans. Barcelona then break, with Adriano crossing from the left, but Carlao does enough to pressure Messi.
23'
Barcelona continue to lead in terms of possession and chances, with Ter Stegen a rather bored spectator at the other end of the field. Donis will be pleased that APOEL are limiting the hosts to shots from 25 yards out, however.
21'
Neymar fires wide! Messi drifts in from the right-hand side brilliantly, before spreading play once again. The Brazil international dances inside, before shooting across goal, but the ball sails clear of the top corner.
19'
Neymar beats one defender with a nice piece of skill, before cutting inside and seeing a shot blocked. Barcelona retain possession, with Dani Alves eventually delivering a cross from the right, but Munir's header is comfortable enough for Pardo to pat down and claim.
17'
Xavi delivers a free-kick from deep on the left flank, but Pique is unable to rise high enough to meet the ball with his forehead! Barcelona are getting closer and penetrating more frequently, but APOEL remain resilient.
16'
Enrique's men are retaining possession brilliantly, dominating and forcing APOEL deep into their own half. Neymar wriggles past one challenge before shooting, but the Brazilian's effort is deflected behind for a corner - which Sergi Roberto can't turn towards goal!
14'
Neymar and Messi combine brilliantly courtesy of a one-two, with the Argentine forward racing into the box as a result. He gets to the byline, before attempting to hook a cut-back square, but can't quite stretch enough to prevent a goal-kick for APOEL.
12'
Vinicius picks up the first yellow card of the game, for late challenges on Neymar and Messi. Barcelona have a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area as a result, which the Argentine steps up to take, but Pardo gets across excellently to the right to beat the danger away!
11'
Vinícius gets yellow.
10'
Neither goalkeeper has been tested yet, with the majority of play in the middle third of the field. Messi has only seen the ball sparingly, beating a couple of players in the process, but the opening minutes have been somewhat cagey.
8'
Samper tries to play Munir through ambitiously, but the youngster sees his attempted pass intercepted with ease. As expected, there are plenty of yellow shirts behind the ball, making it difficult for Barcelona to play through APOEL's lines.
6'
Sheridan and De Vincenti remain rigidly up front, leaving Barcelona with the question of how many defenders they are willing to commit to each attack. Donis appears to be hoping to overload and catch the hosts outnumbered in defence with quick turnovers of possession.
4'
APOEL haven't been able to break out of their own half with any luck thus far, until Aloneftis streaks down the left impressively! With a turn of pace, the winger beats Dani Alves, before delivering a teasing cross! Sergi Roberto does just enough to put off De Vincenti.
2'
Barcelona control possession from the very start, probing from side to side in order to size up their opponents. Sergi Roberto and Samper see a lot of the ball, with the youngsters presumably looking to settle down as soon as possible.
1'
We are underway in the first half! Barcelona are in their famous blue and red stripes, while APOEL turn out in bright yellow. The Champions League returns to Camp Nou!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Barcelona vs APOEL Nicosia, with the Cypriot side aiming to cause an upset at Camp Nou. Though there's some rotation from the Catalan giants, Lionel Messi and company will be eyeing up an early three points in the group stages, with Luis Enrique under considerable pressure to succeed.
I'm Simon Harrison and I will be keeping you up to date as APOEL appear to be facing the impossible. Barcelona have been in formidable form in La Liga recently, which doesn't bode well for tonight's visitors. With a trophy on the Blaugrana's wishlist for the current campaign, the Champions League is definitely a desirable piece of silverware in the eyes of everyone connected to Barca.
TEAM NEWS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is given a chance in between the sticks for the hosts, with Adriano returning to fitness and slotting in at left-back. Marc Bartra partners Gerard Pique in central defence, with Jeremy Mathieu previously struggling with injury. Young midfielders Sergi Samper and Sergi Roberto are given chances to impress alongside long-term servant Xavi, with Munir El Haddadi retaining his place in the forward line alongside Neymar and Lionel Messi.
Barcelona starting line-up: Ter Stegen; Adriano, Bartra, Pique, Dani Alves; Xavi, Sergi Roberto, Sergi Samper; Neymar, Munir, Messi.
Barcelona substitutes: Bravo, Douglas, Rakitic, Iniesta, Mathieu, Rafinha, Sandro Ramirez.
APOEL starting line-up: Pardo; Mario Sergio, Joao Guilherme, Carlao, Antoniades; Tiago Gomes, Nuno Morais, Vinicius, Aloneftis; De Vincenti, Sheridan.
This is only the third time that APOEL have participated in the group stages of the Champions League, with Donis presumably keen for his players not to let the occasion affect their game-plan. Interestingly, goalkeeper Urko Pardo is a graduate of La Masia, with the Belgian returning to his former club in rather important circumstances. Tiago Gomes and substitute Kaka have also plied their trade in La Liga, but never for the Blaugrana.
There are only ten minutes remaining until kick-off, so be sure to stick around for all of the action as tonight's Cypriot visitors attempt to upset the apple cart by taking points from one of this competition's most prestigious sides. Having won merely one point on their Europa League group stage travels last season, however, Donis will have to hope that APOEL improve massively for his inaugural Champions League campaign.
TEAM NEWS: Former Celtic striker Cilian Sheridan starts with Tomas De Vincenti in attack for APOEL, as Giorgios Donis' side opt for a system which allows them to pack players behind the ball. Much will be asked of Carlao and Joao Guilherme in central defence, with Urko Pardo presumably in for a busy evening in goal too. Rafik Djebbour, unavailable for the club's qualifying match due to being unable to travel to the game in question, is among the substitutes.
The two teams have taken to the field in a packed Camp Nou, with the home fans optimistic of a win tonight given the impressive start to Enrique's first La Liga campaign as coach.
HALF TIME! Barcelona head into the dressing room with a slender one-goal lead, courtesy of a header from Gerard Pique. The hosts have been by far the better side, dominating possession and leaving Ter Stegen with very little to do. APOEL are remaining organised and resilient, however.
Sheridan and De Vincenti have offered nothing for Donis' men, but packing the defence has frustrated Barcelona somewhat. Messi and Neymar have had plenty of half-chances prevented and shots blocks, in a slightly frustrating outing thus far. Be sure to return in ten minutes time for all of the second half action at Camp Nou!
FULL TIME! Barcelona manage to close out an unconvincing 1-0 win over APOEL, but the hosts will be merely glad of three points in their Champions League group! The second goal proved elusive, with the away side very organised, but Pique's first half headed was enough in the end.
Neymar and Messi went close on a number of occasions, with Ter Stegen alert to make a stoppage time save to deny Manduca, as Enrique's men struggled to kill the game off. That's all we have time for from Camp Nou, I've been Simon Harrison and I'll see you again next time.
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