- PSG beat Barcelona 6-4 on aggregate to proceed to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League
- Barca’s defeat on Tuesday night marked only the second time that the Spanish side have conceded four or more goals in a home UEFA Champions League game
The Barcelona vs PSG fixture has offered fascinating results over the years and things were not different on Tuesday night as these two clubs met once again.
Barcelona came into the second leg of this tie with the advantage, having won the first leg played in Paris last week 3-2. Despite getting into the scoresheet first inside twelve minutes and leading 4-2 on aggregate, Barca ended up losing the match 4-1 (6-4 on aggregate).
Things started going south for the La Liga giants in the 29th minute when Ronald Araujo was sent off for denying Bradley Barcola a goalscoring opportunity. PSG levelled the scores shortly afterwards through Ousmane Dembele and then scored three more goals in the second half to condemn Barca to a devastating defeat.
Barcelona vs PSG. Photo/ The Athletic.
Kylian Mbappe, who was kept quiet during the first leg of this tie, was in dazzling form on Tuesday night and found the back of the net twice. The Frenchman converted from the penalty spot at the hour mark before sealing the win for PSG in the 89th minute.
Barcelona’s defeat on Tuesday marked only the second time that the Spanish side have conceded 4 or more goals in a home UEFA Champions League/European Cup knockout game. The first time they suffered such a defeat was back in 2021 when PSG knocked them out of the Champions League in the round of 16 stage after beating them 4-1 at Camp Nou.
Barcelona Vs PSG
On Tuesday night, Luis Enrique and Ousmane Dembele returned to Spain to knock their former club Barcelona out of the Champions League. At first, it seemed the mission was going to be impossible after Barca took the lead through Raphinha who converted Lamine Yamal’s cross.
However, PSG were offered a lifeline in the 29th minute when referee Istvan Kovacs showed a straight red card to Araujo for fouling Barcola just outside the box and denying him a goalscoring opportunity. The Parisians made use of their numerical advantage and found the back of the net in the 40th minute. It was Dembele who scored despite being booed by Barca fans every moment he received a pass.
With the momentum on their side, PSG kept knocking after the break and their efforts were eventually rewarded in the 54th minute when Vitinha unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that went straight into the back of the net. Xavi lost his head on the touchline after the goal and was sent off.
Things went from bad to worse for the Catalans when Joao Cancelo conceded a penalty which was slotted home by Mbappe in the 61st minute to give PSG the aggregate lead. Barca committed players forward while attempting to find a goal but the visitors were solid in defence.
Mbappe, who will be joining Real Madrid this summer, ruined Barca’s hopes of finding a goal in the dying minutes when he struck to give PSG a 4-1 lead.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals as PSG thrashed Barcelona 4-1. Photo/ Eurosport.
Next up for PSG in the UEFA Champions League is Borussia Dortmund, who they already clashed with in the group stages. Dortmund also secured a comeback victory on Tuesday night over Atletico Madrid to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The Referee Was Really Bad – Xavi
Speaking after the 4-1 humiliation at home, Barca manager Xavi Hernandez pointed fingers at the match’s referee blaming him for the lose.
“The referee was really bad. I told him his performance was a disaster. I don’t like to talk about referees, but it had a clear impact in the season and it has to be said. We are very upset and angry because the red card was the decisive factor in the match. With 11 (players) we were in a good position, playing well and in command.” Xavi told Movistar Plus after the Barcelona vs PSG match, according to Sky Sports.
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