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Barcelona return to LaLiga action on Saturday at home to Almeria. Plzen are in action in the Czech Liga at home to Sparta Prague on the same day.
Barcelona end their Champions League campaign with a 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen. Goals from Marcos Alonso and Ferran Torres put the visitors 2-0 ahead at the break, but Tomas Chory responded from the penalty spot in the early stages of the second half. Torres put Barca two goals to the good again, but Plzen would not go away as Chory headed in his second of the game. However, Pablo Torre notched his first Barca goal to secure the three points for Xavi's men.
90' + 5' FULL-TIME: VIKTORIA PLZEN 2-4 BARCELONA
90' + 4' Kronus latches on to another loose ball from a Plzen corner, but cannot penetrate the wall of grey shirts.
Ferran Torres
Yellow Card
90' + 2' Torres pulls back Jirka on the charge and goes into the book.
90' + 1' BLOCKS! Barca defenders have to put their bodies on the line to prevent Plzen from making the last few minutes tense. Havel cuts in from the left flank and sees his right-footed strike deflected behind. From the resulting corner, Cermak latches on to a header from Pernica, but his effort on the half-volley is charged down by Casado.
90' There will be four minutes of added time.
90' WIDE! Holik misses another decent chance. He is played through down the inside-right channel by Cermak, but he slices his right-footed strike wide of the target.
A. Kronus
V. Pilař
88' Kronus is on for the home side to replace Pilar.
86' Barcelona will want to see this one out without further drama. The home side have been more than plucky in the final third throughout the contest.
83' Fati breaks away on the counter down the left flank, but he can only send his cross straight at Stanek.
82' OFF THE POST AND WIDE! Jirka collects on the right flank and rifles an effort towards goal. It rattles the right post before travelling to Holik, but he cannot sort out his feet in time. The ball hits his boot and trickles wide of the target with the goal gaping.
80' Torre's strike was his first ever for Barcelona. Unfortunately, he injured himself in the process.
F. Bassey
T. Chorý
79' Chory notched two goals tonight in a fine performance. Fortune replaces the forward.
A. Čermák
L. Kalvach
78' Cermak enters the action to replace Kalvach in the Plzen midfield.
O. Dembélé
Raphinha
78' Dembele replaces Raphinha, who has impressed with two assists tonight.
Álvaro Sanz
Pablo Torre
77' Torre is carted from the field with a knee injury that he sustains while scoring. Sanz replaces the midfielder.
Raphinha
Assist
75' Raphinha catches the Plzen defence napping with his quick free-kick, allowing Torre to collect and score.
Pablo Torre
Goal
75' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! TORRES SMASHES HOME A STRIKE!!!! 4-2 BARCELONA!!! Torre surely puts the game beyond doubt, although he hurts himself in the process. Raphinha catches out the Plzen defence with a quick ball over the top from a free-kick. Torre collects in stride before blasting his left-footed strike past Stanek. He loses his balance after the fact and receives treatment on his knee.
74' Gavi draws a foul from Pilar just inside the Plzen half that will give Raphinha a chance to send the ball forward.
71' The visitors are trying to get their foot on the ball to take the sting out of the game. Plzen look dangerous when playing with speed.
69' Barcelona have looked vulnerable at the back in the second half. The physical presence of Chory is causing them a lot of problems.
Marc Casadó
F. Kessié
67' Kessie is forced off with a hamstring injury and is replaced by Casado in the Barca midfield.
66' Kessie goes down clutching his hamstring in the build-up to the Pilar chance. He does not look in a good way on the deck.
65' Chory attacks a cross from Holik in the middle, and the loose ball falls to Pilar to strike, but he scuffs his effort wide of the target. The home side are upping the ante here.
A. Vlkanova
Assist
63' Vlkanova collects on the left flank and swings a right-footed cross into the box for Chory to attack and score.
T. Chorý
Goal
63' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! CHORY NOTCHES HIS SECOND!!!! 3-2!!!! Plzen are back in the game as Chory directs his header past Pena. The home side came close 30 seconds before as Vlkanova struck the post from close range with a left-footed strike. They keep the attack alive down the left and Vlkanova angles a cross into the middle that soars over Alonso. Chory connects and dispatches his header into the net.
62' SAVE! Gavi twists and turns in the inside-left channel and fires at goal from the angle. Stanek reacts brilliantly to turn his effort away from goal.
60' Hejda attacks a corner from Kalvach at the back post, but he loops his effort over the bar after beating Alonso in the air.
59' SAVE! Bellerin drives through the middle of the Plzen defence and reaches the edge of the box, but he places a tame effort straight at Stanek.
P. Bucha
M. N'Diaye
57' N'diaye is replaced by Bucha in the Plzen midfield.
M. Havel
V. Jemelka
57' Jemelka makes way at the back for the home side and is replaced by Havel.
Alejandro Balde
Jordi Alba
57' Alba is withdrawn after notching an assist this evening. Balde replaces the left-back.
55' WIDE! Vlkanova latches on to a loose ball in the Barca half and breaks forward with pace. He lines up a strike from the edge of the box, but slices it harmlessly wide of the target.
Raphinha
Assist
54' Raphinha picks out Torres in the middle with his cutback, allowing the Spaniard to score his second.
Ferran Torres
Goal
54' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! TORRES RESPONDS FOR BARCA!!!!! 3-1!!!!! The Catalan club restore their two-goal lead as Torres fires home his second of the game. He bursts into the box and offloads to Raphinha in the inside-right channel. The Brazilian works it back to Torres, who blasts a low strike towards the bottom-right corner and it travels through Stanek into the net.
52' Barcelona have conceded four goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Champions League this season.
T. Chorý
Penalty Goal
51' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! CHORY CONVERTS!!!!! 2-1!!!!!! The home side are back in the game as Chory holds his composure from 12 yards. The striker slots his right-footed strike into the bottom-left corner, sending Pena the wrong way. Game on.
Pablo Torre
Yellow Card
50' Torre is booked for his challenge on Chory that results in the Plzen penalty.
50' PENALTY TO PLZEN! Torre trips Chory in the Barcelona box as he battles for a loose ball following a knockdown from Hejda. The referee does not hesitate in pointing to the spot.
M. N'Diaye
Yellow Card
47' N'diaye catches Torre with a hand to the face to send the youngster to the deck. He gets booked for his challenge.
46' We're back under way at the Doosan Arena.
Plzen had chances in the first half none more so than Lukas Kalvach, who missed a glorious opportunity to level the scores. The home side face a big challenge to avoid a sixth-straight defeat in the group stage now.
Barcelona hold a 2-0 lead over Viktoria Plzen at the break in their Champions League clash. Marcos Alonso put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute, scoring on the slide after Ansu Fati's strike was saved. Ferran Torres extended their lead with a close-range volley, which was awarded by VAR having initially being disallowed for offside against Jordi Alba in the build-up. Xavi's men are in command at the interval.
45' + 2' HALF-TIME: VIKTORIA PLZEN 0-2 BARCELONA
45' There will be two minutes of added time.
Jordi Alba
Assist
44' Alba collects a ball over the top and is not even close to being offside. He then tees up Torres with a fine cross to allow the forward to score from close range.
Ferran Torres
Goal
44' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! TORRES' GOAL IS AWARDED BY VAR!!!!! 2-0 BARCELONA!!!! Barca extend their lead as Alba is onside in the build-up before crossing to Torres, who finishes in style on his right foot. Kessie stands the ball up for Alba to collect in the inside-left channel and he lifts a cross into the middle. Torres takes his chance by smashing his strike past Stanek on the half-volley.
44' Torres hammers the ball home from close range after being teed up by Alba, but the offside flag goes up against the Barca full-back in the build-up. However, VAR will have a look at this decision.
Gavi
Yellow Card
42' Gavi slides in hard on Pilar and goes into the book.
41' CHANCE! Barca break with speed and Raphinha feeds the run of Torres in the box. He fires at goal on his left foot, but he can only steer his effort over the bar.
39' OFFSIDE! Jemelka releases Vlkanova in acres of space down the left flank and he cuts past two challenges with ease in the Barca box. He lines up a strike that travels just over the bar, but the offside flag goes up late against the Plzen forward.
36' OVER! Pilar and Kalvach probe on the edge of the box before N'diaye lines up an effort that he launches over the bar. Xavi will not be happy with the amount of openings that the hosts are creating.
35' Plzen are coming to life in the final third and putting pressure on the Barca defence. The Spanish outfit cannot afford to rest on their laurels.
33' Barca move the ball with speed down the left flank, but Fati fails to convert at the back post after Alba puts a perfect cross into the middle.
31' Jemelka probes down the left flank and whips a low ball across the face of goal, but Chory fouls Pena as he attempts to turn his effort goalwards.
30' CHANCE! Torre loses out to Chory on the edge of his own box and the forward plays Kalvach through on goal with only Pena to beat. The Barca keeper does well to spread himself and make a vital block to keep Plzen at bay.
27' Chory tries to head Kalvach's corner towards goal, but his header hits Pique before the visitors scramble away the danger.
26' CHANCE! Holik attacks a cross from Vlkanova, but sees his effort blocked. Plzen keep the pressure on and N'diaye's left-footed strike deflects off Kessie and heads wide of the left post.
24' OVER! Bellerin breaks down the right flank and digs out a cross for Fati to strike first-time in the box, only to lift his effort over the top.
23' Torre offloads to Pique in space, who attempts a strike to nothing from 30 yards. Stanek has to get down quickly to his right, but he makes a comfortable stop.
21' SAVE! Plzen keep up the pressure on the visitors and Pilar strikes at goal from the edge of the box, but Pena gets down to make a comfortable stop.
21' OFF THE BAR! Chory hits the bar with a diving header. Kalvach puts a perfect cross into the box from the right flank that Chory stoops to attack. He heads his effort into the ground and it rises off the deck but bounces onto the bar and away from danger.
20' Vlkanova goes down under pressure from Kessie and earns the home side a free-kick on the right flank in the Barca half.
19' OVER! Alba works the ball to Fati on the edge of the box. He takes a touch to create a yard of space to fire at goal, only to lift his effort over the top.
17' It is all one-way traffic as Barcelona are dominating possession and are patiently waiting for gaps to appear in the Plzen backline.
15' Barca move the ball with speed as Kessie threads the needle to release Alba in the inside-left channel, but his cross to the near post is cleared by Hejda.
13' The home side are chasing shadows and Kalvach is forced into a foul to stop Gavi breaking down the right flank.
11' Barcelona have made a very good start to the contest and are finding space very easily in the Plzen half.
9' Raphinha finds space down the right flank and fires a cross into the middle from the byline, but no one in a Barca shirt can attack his delivery at the back post.
7' OVER! Barca break forward with menace again and Torres tees up Raphinha on the edge of the box, but the Brazilian lifts his left-footed effort narrowly over the bar.
Marcos Alonso
Goal
6' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! ALONSO POKES HOME ON THE LINE!!!! 1-0 BARCELONA!!!!! The visitors take the lead as Alonso slides to ensure the ball crosses the line after Stanek saved Fati's strike. Alonso surges forward from the back to start the move before Torres releases Fati in the inside-left channel. The forward shoots but sees his effort saved by Stanek, although the ball trickles towards the goalline. Alonso follows in on the slide to ensure that Barca take the lead.
4' Holik raids down the right flank and cuts back to supply a cross into the Barca box. Pilar rises to attack the cross, but heads his effort tamely at Pena.
2' Alba clips a dangerous cross into the Plzen box from the left flank that just evades Torres on the stretch in the middle.
1' We're under way at Doosan Arena.
Viktoria Plzen have lost all three of their previous games against Barcelona in the Champions League, scoring just one goal and conceding 11 times in return.
Only Fati and Alba remain in the Barcelona line-up from their LaLiga win over Valencia last time out. Xavi rests the majority of his key men with nothing to play for this evening. Pena gets a full debut between the posts for the Catalan club, while Alonso, Pique and Bellerin slot into the backline. Kessie, Gavi and Torre start in the middle of the park and Torres and Raphinha support Fati in the final third.
Plzen have made two changes to their side from their win over Ziln last time out in the Czech Liga. Holik comes into the side at right-back to replace Havel, while N'diaye replaces Bucha in the middle of the park.
BARCELONA SUBS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Ilias Chakkour, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Alex Valle, Alvaro Sanz, Arnau Tenas.
VIKTORIA PLZEN SUBS: Marian Tvrdon, Martin Jedlicka, Pavel Bucha, Milan Havel, Ales Cermak, Adam Kronus, Adam Vrba, Pavel Gaszczyk, Fortune Akpan Bassey.
VIKTORIA PLZEN (4-2-3-1): Jindrich Stanek, Libor Holik, Lukas Hejda, Ludek Pernica, Vaclav Jemelka; Modou N'diaye, Lukas Kalvach; Erik Jirka, Adam Vlkanova, Vaclav Pilar; Tomas Chory.
Barcelona will bow out of the Champions League tonight before returning to action next year in the Europa League after their third-place finish was confirmed in the last round of fixtures. The Catalan club put forward a meek performance in their last outing against Bayern Munich, suffering a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou. Xavi has not been able to get a display out of his team in the Champions League other than the home tie against Plzen. Barca will be aware of a potential banana skin tonight, so will have to be at their best to end their campaign with a win.
Viktoria Plzen will be looking to end the competition on a high note after suffering five defeats on the bounce. The Czech outfit were hammered 4-0 last time out by Inter on the road, failing to compete against Simone Inzaghi’s men. It was always going to be a difficult draw for Plzen, but they would have had hopes of at least earning a point. Tonight is their final chance and they will have plenty of motivation against a Barcelona team with nothing to play for other than pride.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Viktoria Plzen and Barcelona at the Doosan Arena.
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