PSG vs Barcelona Results: Roura Left to Rue Messi and Mascherano Injuries; Ancelotti Disappointed Not to Pickup Win

Apr 02, 2013 11:32 PM EDT

Barcelona assistant manager Jordi Roura said losing Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano to injury was a big blow, while PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted his side deserved a win against Barca in the first leg quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Messi opened the scoring for the away side late in the first half, before going off injured at halftime. Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalized, but Xavi Hernandez regained Barca's lead from the penalty spot late on, only for Blaise Matuidi to bring the scores level in stoppage time.

"The result is not as good as we would have liked, while the price we have paid to achieve it is high," Roura told reporters. "I have to tip my hat to our players for the intensity with which they played and their high levels of concentration.

"Having said that, we have lost Leo and Javier (Mascherano) to injury and we are down about that. It now looks as though (Gerard) Pique is going to become even more important to us, taking into account the players we have lost at the back.

"If neither Messi nor Mascherano can play the return leg it will be a very big blow for us, but we will try to take advantage of the big squad we have."

Roura insisted he was not surprised by PSG's performance, with the French side giving as much as they received in the first leg.

"We knew beforehand about the potential that PSG have, so we were not surprised by them," he added. "They are a very direct and physical team. While knowing how hard the second leg will be, we are capable of winning at our ground and getting through this tie."

Ancelotti, however, was disappointed by the final result, but extremely proud of his players. "I personally don't think it was a good result," the Italian said. "We played well going forward, scoring twice.

"We defended well but conceded twice. We gave Messi the first goal and a second gift came later. However, I'm proud of what my players produced. I'm proud of their bravery and of the good attitude they showed. I'm just unhappy with the result."

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