All to play for as Benfica hold Barca

Benfica 0 Barcelona 0

Barcelona and Benfica tonight somehow failed to score in a goalless draw which was anything but dull.

Barca had a string of chances to score, but a mix of poor finishing and stubborn defending kept Benfica in with a chance of springing a surprise in the return leg of this Champions League quarter-final next week.

Indeed, in an often end-to-end game, the hosts had a number of openings themselves in which they might have snatched a winner.

Despite missing a number of key players, Barca created chance after chance but could not break the deadlock.

Benfica goalkeeper Moretto de Souza was first called into action in the seventh minute when he made a double save from Ronaldinho, initially parrying his fierce drive before tipping the rebound over the bar.

At the other end, Simao found space behind a makeshift Barca defence missing Carles Puyol, Edmilson and Rafael Marquez, but his shot was straight at Victor Valdes.

In the 15th minute, Andres Iniesta went on a mazy run through the Benfica defence but having done the hard work, he pulled his shot wide of the target.

Manuel Fernandes fired over for Benfica before Deco missed a great chance for Barca.

A clever move between Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o left the Portuguese international in the clear, but he side-footed his shot wide.

Geovanni, leading the Benfica line in place of the suspended Nuno Gomes, then burst forward and Valdes was relieved to see his dipping drive sail narrowly over the crossbar.

There was almost an opening for Ronaldinho in the 26th minute when Moretto fluffed his clearance, but the goalkeeper recovered to scramble the ball to safety.

In the 33rd minute, Mark van Bommel made a penetrating run from midfield, but having been allowed to the freedom to continue into the penalty area, his low shot was not strong enough to beat Moretto.

Petit then tried his luck from distance for Barca but his volleyed shot was too high.

With two minutes remaining, Eto’o missed the best chance of the game so far. Having picked up a superb pass from Ronaldinho, Eto’o got around the defender but placed his shot too close to Moretto who saved with his legs.

The goalkeeper almost went from hero to villain moments later however, making a mess of a one-two with Ricardo Rocha, but van Bommel saved his blushes by firing wide.

Ten minutes into the second half, Manuel Fernandes almost caught Valdes out with a shot which bounced awkwardly.

However, moments later it was Barca who were ruing their luck as they visitors hit the woodwork twice in a space of just seconds.

First Henrik Larsson, filling in for the injured Leo Messi, saw an effort tipped on to the post by Moretto. Motta then struck the other post moments later as Barca pounded away on the Benfica door.

At the other end, Fabrizio Miccoli was impressing since coming on at half-time. His 60th minute shot was only parried by Valdes, and it took an excellent intervention from Gio Van Bronckhorst to deny Geovanni an easy rebound.

Barca raced upfield where Moretto did well to deny a curling shot from van Bommel.

Ronaldinho then curled a free-kick over from a promising position.

Benfica had a penalty appeal turned down when Thiago Motta appeared to handle the ball inside the area, and with ten minutes left Simao missed a great chance, beating the offside trap only to see Valdes save his shot.

Miccoli had a chance to nick it in injury time, but Valdes saved his inventive flicked shot.