Former Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu scored on his return to the Camp Nou. But it was for the wrong team as Ernesto Valverde’s side beat Sporting 2-0.
Barcelona had already qualified as group winners and this was another stroll for them, leaving Lionel Messi on the bench until the hour mark and taking the lead through Paco Alcacer.
They have now gone 22 games without losing – that last defeat to Real Madrid in the Super Cup seems like another season. They have made it to the last 16 without dazzling teams but they have conceded just once and go into the knockout phase with the best defensive record in the tournament.
Paco Alcacer scored the opening goal from Denis Suarez’s corner just before the hour mark
Lionel Messi was introduced to the action as a 61st-minute substitute in place of Aleix Vidal
Jeremy Mathieu is floored after scoring a late own goal for his former team Barcelona
‘We have not always played the brilliant football of other seasons but we have been effective and no-one will want us in the draw,’ said midfielder Denis Suarez on the final whistle.
It was Luis Suarez who almost broke the deadline when he made it to the byline and pulled the ball back across the six-yard box on nine minutes. Alcacer and Aleix Vidal – Suarez fellow strikers on the night – failed to reach the cross.
For Sporting Bruno Fernandes’s shot did not trouble Jesper Cillensen in goal for the rested Marc Andre ter Stegen and their bench soon heard news from Turin that Juventus had taken the lead meaning that even a victory at the Camp Nou would not see them through.
On 24 minutes Suarez, looking for his first Champions League goal of the season, made a chance for himself on the edge of the six-yard box but Rui Patricio did well to race out and block.
Barcelona fans turn on their mobile phone flashlights to call for the release of Catalan leaders
Messi started the match on from the substitutes bench after being left out of the Barcelona XI
Sporting Lisbon coach Jorge Jesus embraces Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde before kick-off
Battaglia slides to track the progress of Aleix Vidal who was making a rare start for Barcelona
Alan Ruiz up-front for Sporting was seeing little of the ball and he chopped down Gerard Pique. It was pure frustration and he was booked for the foul. The Barcelona bench were glad to see Pique get back to his feet.
With Samuel Umtiti out for two months the last thing Barcelona need is another central defensive injury. They could also have done without Nelson Semedo’s booking, he will now miss the first leg of the last-16 game.
The biggest cheer of the night came just after the restart when Messi started warming up. On the pitch Suarez had the chance to take a free-kick on the edge of the area. The kick suited a left-footed strike but with Messi still not on the pitch Suarez sent it into the wall.
Rodrigo Battaglia holds off a challenge from Ivan Rakitic during a goalless first half in Spain
Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio spreads himself to deny Barcelona’s Luis Suarez
Gerard Pique and Alan Ruiz compete for possession during Tuesday evening’s clash
Nelson Semedo tussles with Sporting’s Battaglia who was in the thick of the first half action
On 58 minutes Messi finally stripped to come on. But he had to wait another minute because Barcelona had a corner and from Denis Suarez’ kick Alcacer nodded in at the near post.
It was his first Champions League goal in a Barcelona shirt. Messi replaced Vidal 60 seconds later and it was not long before Sergio Busquets was also on for Gerard Pique.
Sporting had brought on Gelson Martins and Bas Dost at half time to inject some much needed pace to their counter attacks.
Alcacer attempts to escape the attentions of Sporting full back Cristiano Piccini
Suarez tries to create space in the Sporting penalty area in a frustrating night for the striker
The striker made the most of his chance by glancing home from Denis Suarez’s corner
Alcacer celebrates his strike with team-mate Andre Gomes on Tuesday at the Nou Camp
Alcacer’s team-mates congratulate him after the striker’s goal lit up a drab performance
Fabio Coentrao now replaced Bruno Cesar. The former Real Madrid defender was jeered on to the field by Barcelona supporters now enjoying themselves with their team ahead and Messi on the pitch.
It was not long before Messi slipped the ball through to Suarez and his cross would have been turned in by Alcacer had it not been for Patricio’s intervention.
More seemed to happen in the half an hour Messi was on the pitch than in the rest of the game. He forced the best save of the night from Patricio with a curling shot from the edge of the area from Denis Suarez’ pass and his slide rule pass put Alcacer through only for the forward to put his shot wide.
More accurate was Mathieu, at the wrong end unfortunately, as he put Denis Suarez’ cross past his own keeper for 2-0.
Messi was denied by a smart save from away keeper Patricio just minutes after coming on
Half-time substitute Bas Dost jumps on Jasper Cillessen after the goalkeeper denied him
Ex-Barcelona defender Mathieu put through his own net to settle the contest late on
Mathieu (centre) is left dejected after his unhappy return to the Nou Camp on Tuesday night