Luis Suarez finally emerged from Lionel Messi's shadow at Barcelona by scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday, putting the Spanish club within sight of the Champions League quarterfinals for an eighth straight year.
Suarez has found goals harder to come by since moving from Liverpool for $130 million last summer, but he rediscovered his scoring touch on his return to England with opportunist strikes in the 16th and 30th minutes. His goals capped a dominant first-half display by Barca in the last-16 first leg.
City improved considerably after the break, with Sergio Aguero reducing the deficit in the 69th minute, but the home side lost defender Gael Clichy to a red card and was thankful for Joe Hart's last-minute penalty save from Messi. With the goal at his mercy, the Argentina star headed the rebound wide to give City renewed hope heading into the second leg on March 18.
"If they lost the game 3-1, that is really difficult for (City)," Suarez said. "But 2-1 is a good result for them."
In the night's other first-leg match, Juventus beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in Turin.
Over-run and outplayed in the first half, City was lucky to go into the break only two goals behind as manager Manuel Pellegrini's decision to play a 4-4-2 formation backfired. Barcelona — with Messi to the fore — exploited the extra space in midfield to create chances at will, and Suarez was clinical.
With seven goals in 22 appearances for Barcelona, Suarez has been steady — if not spectacular — in his first season in Spain and this was the game that announced himself at the club.
Showing the instincts that helped him score 31 league goals for Liverpool last season, the reigning player of the year in England pounced on a weak headed clearance by City captain Vincent Kompany and swept a low left-foot finish past Hart.
Suarez was denied by the legs of Hart after another sweeping length-of-the-field move that had its origins with Messi nutmegging David Silva midway in the Barca half. But the striker didn't have to wait long for his second goal, as Messi drifted through two tackles and passed to Jordi Alba, whose delayed cross was glanced in by a sliding Suarez.
Heads were bowed as the City players left the field at halftime, while the "oles" from the small section of Barca supporters had begun in the 23rd minute.
"We couldn't put three passes together in the first half," Pellegrini said. "There was a bit of confusion but we managed to be calmer in the second (half)."
City took the game to Barca after the restart, passing up three great chances before Aguero ran onto a deft flick by Silva, burst between two defenders and shot high into the net from 12 meters.
Clichy had already been booked in the 59th for a foul on Ivan Rakitic when he went in late and high on Dani Alves in the 73rd. The Frenchman held his hands up but his protests didn't stop referee Felix Brych from showing a second yellow.
City lost 4-1 on aggregate to Barca at the same stage last season — and had a player sent off in both legs.
Fellow full back Pablo Zabaleta exacerbated Clichy's mistake by fouling Messi to give away the last-minute penalty, but Hart saved. Messi's fifth failed attempt from his last 10 penalties for club and country kept City in contention for the quarterfinals.
Juventus settled for a narrow 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday to leave it all to play for in the return fixture in Germany.
Carlos Tevez fired Juventus ahead in the 13th minute but Dortmund soon leveled through striker Marco Reus following a terrible slip by Giorgio Chiellini.
Alvaro Morata, who had set up the opener, restored Juve's lead shortly before halftime to provide a slender advantage for the second leg on March 18.
"It was my best match since joining Juventus," said Morata, a summer signing from Real Madrid. "The many games I've played in in Serie A have taught me a lot, I've grown."
Along with Dortmund's away goal, there was more disappointment for Juventus as key midfielder Andrea Pirlo limped off in the first half, to be replaced by Roberto Pereyra.
Dortmund also lost defender Lukasz Piszczek to injury.
"I think the result was fair," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. "We had a good game in the first half, but we gave them two goalscoring opportunities. Juventus had two great chances and didn't miss. Juve is a great team."
Juventus preserved its proud home record, having lost just one of 15 European fixtures since moving to Juventus Stadium in 2011 — against Bayern Munich two years ago.
"We had a good game, and above all we were organized in defense," Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "We had a bit of difficulty in the first half but in the second half we played better. I'm disappointed with the goal we conceded but these things happen in football... I'm still happy with how we did."
In the night's other match, Barcelona won 2-1 at Manchester City.
Juventus is dominating the Italian league, but is seeking only its second Champions League last eight appearance since 2006 — when it was relegated for match-fixing in Serie A.
Dortmund had stormed through the group stage, losing only one match to finish ahead of Arsenal, but has struggled domestically. However, it came into the match on the back of three successive Bundesliga victories as it recovered from its worst ever start.
Juventus took an early lead when Morata raced down the left flank and Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller could only parry his cross-come-shot straight into Tevez's path and the Argentina forward made no mistake from close range.
However, Juventus gifted an equalizer just five minutes later. Marco Reus, who had scored four goals in his previous three Champions League matches, stroked the ball into the bottom left corner after a Chiellini slip put the Germany international clean through on goal.
Morata and Leonardo Bonucci both headed off target as Juventus tried to restore its advantage, while Dortmund looked dangerous on the counter.
The home side again went in front two minutes from halftime when Morata was left unmarked to poke Paul Pogba's cross into the bottom right corner.
Morata volleyed over from a promising position on the edge of the area shortly after the break — although the offside flag went up to spare the Spaniard's blushes.
Former Juventus forward Ciro Immobile almost came back to haunt his old club but fired straight at Gianluigi Buffon, who was able to make a comfortable save.
Juventus had several chances to seal the win, with an effort by Tevez being deflected just past the left upright before a great stop from Weidenfeller denied the Argentine at point-blank range.
From the resulting corner, Chiellini almost atoned for his slip but headed narrowly over the bar.
Pereyra also put an angled drive just past the far post as Juventus ended the match as the stronger side.