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Xavi makes history by completing 96 passes out of 96 (yes, that's 100%!)
By John Drayton
PUBLISHED:23:23, 10 April 2013| UPDATED:23:29, 10 April 2013
It wasn't a perfect team performance from Barcelona, but Xavi enjoyed an remarkable evening: completing a staggering 100 per cent of his 96 passes in the match with Paris St Germain.
The Catalan giants were made to sweat on their place in the Champions League semi-finals, they went behind after 50 minutes and only secured safe passage into the next round on away goals courtesy of Pedro's 71st-minute strike.
Unblemished record: Xavi found an team-mate with every pass against Paris St Germain
Many will point to the introduction of talisman Lionel Messi midway through the second-half as the key to the club's much-improved fortunes, but it was Xavi who produced an immaculate midfield masterclass.
All smiles: Xavi savours success at the Nou Camp with team-mate Andres Iniesta
The Spaniard, 33, came close to opening the scoring just minutes into the match with a deft free-kick which brushed the side netting - many in the stadium believed he had scored.
He played the full 90 minutes of the match and found a team-mate with each of his passes - a feat matched by others in the last 10 years - but no one has managed it on such a scale.
Xavi's efforts topped the 100 per cent performance from Javier Zanetti against Tottenham three years ago and Arsenal cult hero Emmanuel Eboue is third on the list.
But while the Spaniard managed nearly 100 completed passes, Zanetti and Eboue made 72 and 54 successful passes respectively in their matches.
It's understandable a player of Cristiano Ronaldo's ability should feature on the list, but, remarkably, so does Chelsea defender John Terry for his impeccable performance against Werder Bremen in the 2008 competition.
Catch him if you can: Xavi was instrumental in Barca's progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League
Most passes at 100% accuracy in the Champions League since 2003/04
MatchYearPlayerPassesBarcelona v PSG2013 Xavi 96Inter vs Tottenham2010Javier Zanetti72FC Porto vs Arsenal2006 Emmanuel Eboue54Barcelona vs Stuttgart2007Lilian Thuram 50Real Madrid vs Man City2012
Cristiano Ronaldo50Braga vs Galatasaray2012PauloVinicius 48Basel vs Barcelona2006Martin Caceres 48Chelsea vs Werder Bremen2008John Terry47FC Porto vs Dynamo Kiev2006Rolando 45Roma vs Real Madrid2004Ivan Helguera 43Real Madrid vs Dinamo Zagreb2011Sergio Ramos43
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2Q9Se4IJI
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By John Drayton
PUBLISHED:23:23, 10 April 2013| UPDATED:23:29, 10 April 2013
It wasn't a perfect team performance from Barcelona, but Xavi enjoyed an remarkable evening: completing a staggering 100 per cent of his 96 passes in the match with Paris St Germain.
The Catalan giants were made to sweat on their place in the Champions League semi-finals, they went behind after 50 minutes and only secured safe passage into the next round on away goals courtesy of Pedro's 71st-minute strike.
Unblemished record: Xavi found an team-mate with every pass against Paris St Germain Many will point to the introduction of talisman Lionel Messi midway through the second-half as the key to the club's much-improved fortunes, but it was Xavi who produced an immaculate midfield masterclass.
All smiles: Xavi savours success at the Nou Camp with team-mate Andres IniestaThe Spaniard, 33, came close to opening the scoring just minutes into the match with a deft free-kick which brushed the side netting - many in the stadium believed he had scored.
He played the full 90 minutes of the match and found a team-mate with each of his passes - a feat matched by others in the last 10 years - but no one has managed it on such a scale.
Xavi's efforts topped the 100 per cent performance from Javier Zanetti against Tottenham three years ago and Arsenal cult hero Emmanuel Eboue is third on the list.
But while the Spaniard managed nearly 100 completed passes, Zanetti and Eboue made 72 and 54 successful passes respectively in their matches.
It's understandable a player of Cristiano Ronaldo's ability should feature on the list, but, remarkably, so does Chelsea defender John Terry for his impeccable performance against Werder Bremen in the 2008 competition.
Catch him if you can: Xavi was instrumental in Barca's progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League Most passes at 100% accuracy in the Champions League since 2003/04
MatchYearPlayerPassesBarcelona v PSG2013 Xavi 96Inter vs Tottenham2010Javier Zanetti72FC Porto vs Arsenal2006 Emmanuel Eboue54Barcelona vs Stuttgart2007Lilian Thuram 50Real Madrid vs Man City2012
Cristiano Ronaldo50Braga vs Galatasaray2012PauloVinicius 48Basel vs Barcelona2006Martin Caceres 48Chelsea vs Werder Bremen2008John Terry47FC Porto vs Dynamo Kiev2006Rolando 45Roma vs Real Madrid2004Ivan Helguera 43Real Madrid vs Dinamo Zagreb2011Sergio Ramos43
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2Q9Se4IJI
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
I think the majority of us on here are convinced so you just need to convinc Tappa and his cronies now!!
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