Ibrahimovic saves holders Barcelona

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half equaliser earned holders Barcelona a 1-1 draw at VfB Stuttgart in their Champions League last-16 first leg last night.

In the other match played yesterday Bordeaux took a big step towards the quarter-finals after beating Greek champions Olympiakos 1-0 in Athens.

In Germany, Brazilian-born Cacau headed the mid-table Bundesliga team in front in the 25th minute as they outfought the visitors in a pulsating first half.

Stuttgart had chances to increase their lead as they put the champions on the back foot but Lionel Messi also hit the post for Barca just before half-time.

Barca levelled in the 52nd minute when Ibrahimovic scored at the second attempt after his first shot was superbly saved by Jens Lehmann.

The first chance of the game fell to Messi, who had a shot blocked by Serdar Tasci after he burst through the middle.

Cacau, who scored four goals in a 5-1 win at Cologne on Saturday, then put Stuttgart ahead when he outjumped Carles Puyol at the far post to nod in Timo Gebhart's cross.

The Germans appealed for a penalty for a handling offence by Gerard Pique before Cacau had a toe-poked shot blocked by keeper Victor Valdes.

In another home attack Christian Traesch should have done better when he shot wide from Aleksandr Hleb's layoff.

Stuttgart then had a let-off when Lehmann allowed a Messi shot to slip through his hands, only for the ball to hit the post and bounce into the arms of the grateful keeper.

Barca were on target soon after the restart when a Pique header found Ibrahimovic and he converted from close range at the second attempt.

The Sweden striker almost grabbed a winner when his shot was deflected over by a defender after Lehmann completely missed a corner.

Girondins Bordeaux maintained their unbeaten record in the competition and also handed Olympiakos their first defeat in Europe this season thanks to a solitary Michael Ciani goal.

Referee Howard Webb incurred the wrath of the Olympiakos fans when he denied the home side an equalising goal on 94 minutes for a push on Cedric Carrasso.

Former Newcastle striker Lomana LuaLua had an earlier opportunity to level the score on 81 minutes when he went clean through from a Matt Derbyshire pass but Carrasso reacted quickly to push his shot around the post.

LuaLua had two further shots saved as the 28-year-old custodian scurried both efforts to safety.

Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca missed a glorious chance to level when he headed a Raul Bravo cross over the bar with the net gaping wide.

"We're happy to score away from home, perhaps we could have scored a second but at least we got the victory," Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc said after the game.

"There are only a handful of clubs that have the experience of playing in the Champions League quarter-finals. Experience comes by playing matches," he added.