BARCELONA 1-4 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (4-6 ON AGG): KYLIAN MBAPPE COMPLETES COMEBACK AS PSG DUMP OUT 10-MAN CATALANS IN EPIC
Apr 17, 2024
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain recovered to win 4-1 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate to dump Barcelona out of the UEFA Champions League. Raphinha scored first as Barca looked set for a comfortable night but Ronald Araujo’s red card in the first half changed everything. Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha and Mbappe’s double completed the turnaround as PSG progressed into the semi-finals.
Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat 10-man Barcelona 4-1 and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The France international kept his cool with a second-half penalty and then tucked in a last-gasp rebound as Luis Enrique’s French champions overturned a 3-2 home reversal to progress 6-4 on aggregate. Barcelona had made the perfect start as Raphinha followed up his two-goal display in Paris last week with a close-range opener on 12 minutes after bewitching play from Lamine Yamal down the right.
The hosts were good value for their two-goal cushion in the tie overall, but their evening took a turn for the worse on the half hour when Ronald Araujo was shown a straight red for bringing down Bradley Barcola.
PSG took advantage of the lifeline as Ousmane Dembele once again netted against his former club to level matters on the night five minutes prior to the interval.
It was one-way traffic following the break and after Vitinha’s excellent 25-yard drive moved PSG ahead on the night, Mbappe put them in charge of the tie with a clinical spot kick just past the hour.
The 25-year-old then took his tally to 41 for the season to polish off a late counter attack and set up a last-four clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Xavi’s side weathered an early spell of PSG pressure and looked in control when Raphinha made it 4-2 on aggregate.
However, Araujo’s straight red on the half hour completely turned the game on its head.
To their credit, the visitors truly made the one-man advantage count and deservedly wrestled the momentum their way to exact some semblance of revenge for the 2017 ‘remontada.’
For much of the two legs Barca kept Mbappe relatively quiet, but he stepped up to net a tie-winning double to keep his own dream of ending his time at PSG with the UEFA Champions League trophy alive, as well as further endearing himself to fans of Barca’s bitter rivals Real Madrid, who look set to sign the France superstar in the summer.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain). The boos from his old supporters were music to Dembele’s ears as he set the ball rolling with the first of the night and then won the penalty that put the visitors in charge of the tie.
PLAYER RATINGS
BARCA: ter Stegen 7, Kounde 6, Cancelo 5, Araujo 4, Cubarsi 6, de Jong 6, Pedri 6, Gundogan 6, Yamal 7, Lewandowski 7, Raphinha 7. Subs: Martinez 6, Torres 6, Felix n/a, Lopez n/a.
PSG: Donnarumma 6, Mendes 7, Hernandez 7, Marquinhos 8, Hakimi 7, Ruiz 7, Vitinha 8, Zaire-Emery 7, Dembele 8*, Mbappe 8, Barcola 8. Subs: Lee Kang-In 6, Asensio 6, Ugarte n/a, Kolo Muani n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
12’ – GOAL! – Barcelona 1-0 PSG: (Raphinha – Barca lead 4-2 on aggregate). The hosts break the visitors’ monopoly of the ball as Yamal dances to the right byline and fizzes in a low cross that Raphinha diverts home at the near post.
30’ – BARCELONA RED CARD! Ronald Araujo is shown a straight red for bringing down Barcola as he looked to charge free into the area in the inside left channel.
40’ – GOAL! – Barcelona 1-1 PSG: (Dembele) – Barca lead 4-3 on aggregate). All square on the night as Dembele lashes a rising shot in at the far post after a lovely cross from the left by Barcola.
54’ – GOAL! – Barcelona 1-2 PSG: (Vitinha – it’s 4-4 on aggregate). Vitinha is allowed to rifle a low 25-yard shot into the bottom corner after being left free to line it up from a well-worked short corner.
61’ – GOAL! – Barcelona 1-3 PSG: (Mbappe penalty – PSG lead 5-4 on aggregate). What a turnaround! Mbappe keeps his cool to drill home the spot kick after Cancelo was penalised for tripping Dembele.
89’ – GOAL! – Barcelona 1-4 PSG: (Mbappe – PSG lead 6-4 on aggregate). The visitors break at pace. Ter Stegen saves from Mbappe and then blocks the rebound, but a miscued clearance falls back to Mbappe, who sweeps in at the near post.
