Category: Paris Saint-Germain

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 of Barca’s bitter rivals Real Madrid, who look set to sign the France superstar in the summer.

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.

Winger Lamine Yamal, 16, and centre-back Pau Cubarsi, 17, got the nod to start at the Parc des Princes in a game of huge importance to both clubs and took their chance to impress.

Yamal’s devilish outswinging ball into the box paved the way for Raphinha’s first goal in the 37th minute, while Cubarsi dealt with threats at the other end of the pitch with aplomb on just his second appearance in Europe’s greatest club competition.

With Fermin Lopez, 20, and Pedri, 21, coming off the bench, it’s little wonder Xavi, who will leave at the end of the season, is so optimistic about the future.

“We have to be proud,” Xavi told TNT Sports. “With Cubarsi, 17, Lamine, 16, Fermin is a player from La Masia also and they have more commitment with the team, so I’m very happy because it’s a new Barca and we are in a good way I think.”

Barcelona led at the break thanks to Raphinha’s well-taken opener but were stunned by two goals in three minutes shortly after the break.

Former player Ousmane Dembele drew PSG level with a stunning strike before Vitinha flipped the game on its head when he poked past Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 51st minute.

But Barcelona’s substitutions wrestled momentum back in their favour.

Pedri’s marked his 61st-minute introduction with an exquisite assist for Raphinha with one of his first touches of the game before Andreas Christensen headed past Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Barcelona a slender advantage for next week’s second leg at the Camp Nou.

“It’s a big win of course, playing away in the Champions League,” Xavi added. “We did really well in defence and attack but especially in defence. Everybody worked for the team and tactically we did really well.

“The wingers helped us a lot. Cubarsi jumped so well, first against Kang-In Lee, sometimes to Asensio because they changed a lot of players.

“We defended so well against [Kylian] Mbappe with Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo and we created many chances.

“I think Robert [Lewandowski] made a difference, Raphinha, and then the players that came inside really helped us a lot, especially Pedri.

“I’m very happy and very proud of the team. It’s just a small advantage but it’s a big win.”

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Barcelona twice came from behind to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 at the Parc des Princes to take a one-goal advantage into their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg in Catalonia.

Raphinha put Barca into a one-goal lead on 37 minutes as he curled an effort into the net which had been vacated by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

But PSG provided a stunning turnaround with two goals in three minutes immediately after half-time as Ousmane Dembele fired home before Vitinha scored his maiden Champions League goal to put the hosts ahead.

Spearheaded by a double change on the hour mark, Barca drew level as Raphinha scored his second, latching onto Pedri’s excellent ball just a minute after his introduction.

Another substitute, Andreas Christensen, completed the turnaround as Barca take an advantage for their home second leg – a feat they have not achieved in their last two attempts.

PSG will rue missed chances as Bradley Barcola and Dembele both saw efforts denied by the woodwork, and PSG boss Luis Enrique will be hoping to perform a comeback akin to the one he masterminded as Barca boss in 2017, which knocked out the French champions in the last 16.

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