It was but extra Champions League insanity as PSG and Barcelona served up a thriller. We glance again on the sport on our PSG vs Barcelona stats web page.
A brace from Raphinha and a late winner from Andreas Christensen gave Barcelona a 3-2 result in take again to Catalonia, as their away win towards Paris Saint-Germain continued the midweek insanity of the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Brazilian put Xavi’s facet forward within the first half, earlier than PSG turned the sport on its head with an early second-half salvo. Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha every struck to place the house crew forward, earlier than Raphinha netted once more to equalise on the hour mark. Christensen was the hero, nevertheless, as he highest from a nook to nod within the winner to arrange a tantalising second leg subsequent week.
Paris Saint-Germain, roared on by raucous Parc des Princes crowd little doubt conscious this could possibly be the final time they see their hero Kylian Mbappé on a European night time, began brightly.
With Mbappé down the left and former Barcelona man Dembélé on the fitting, PSG discovered it simple to progress the ball vast and infrequently to their harmful playmakers.
Barcelona defended that hazard fairly nicely within the first interval, with full-backs João Cancelo and Jules Koundé not venturing too far ahead. Nonetheless, the Parisians had the primary seven photographs within the sport and regarded the most certainly to make the breakthrough.
Barca grew into the sport as the primary half wore on and a seemingly innocuous nook led to their first likelihood. Gianluigi Donnarumma – who struggled in giant components this night – got here and failed to assert a nook. Robert Lewandowski managed to get a head on it to steer it goalwards, just for Nuno Mendes to hook the ball off the road.
That appeared to spur Barcelona into life, with Raphinha drilling an effort from 25 yards out moments later that Donnarumma tipped across the submit.
After conceding the primary seven photographs of the sport, Barca had rapidly tried the following six.
After which – the breakthrough. Pau Cubarsí – who tonight grew to become the youngest defender in UCL historical past to begin a quarter-final match – punched a go into Lewandowski’s ft. The Pole spun his man expertly, earlier than feeding Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old teased a return go into the field, and Donnarumma got here flying out to get a hand on it.
The ball squirmed out to Raphinha who completed along with his proper foot to internet his first Champions League aim. Xavi’s facet went into the break with a slender lead. They regarded … snug.
Luis Enrique, clearly lower than impressed along with his crew’s first-half efficiency, changed Marco Asensio – who’d began as his primary striker – for Bradley Barcola. Dembele was moved down the center.
It didn’t take lengthy for that new PSG form to pay dividends. Dembele – who’d regarded like PSG’s finest attacking outlet within the first half – mixed with Mbappé down the left-hand facet, and when Mbappé’s cross was minimize out, Dembele was quickest to react. The Frenchman shifted the ball onto his left foot and slammed the ball into the roof of the online.
Dembélé grew to become the tenth participant to attain a UCL aim each for and towards Barcelona, and the Spanish facet now have the unlucky accolade of that quantity being the very best of any membership within the competitors.
Simply two minutes later it was two. Vitinha latched onto a Fabián Ruiz through-ball to slip the ball dwelling. Within the blink of an eye fixed, PSG had turned the sport on its head.
But if PSG’s substitute had modified the sport in a delicate, tactical method, the impression of Barcelona’s subs have been slap-in-your-face apparent.
Pedri – who Barcelona have desperately missed this season – offered an help after simply 51 seconds. His very first ball of the sport was a magnificence: a lofted via ball to Raphinha, who clinically volleyed the ball into the underside nook.
Typically soccer is so simple as having actually good gamers do actually good issues. Having by no means scored earlier than within the competitors, the Brazilian was out of the blue on a hat-trick. Barcelona have been stage.
It was one other Barca substitute who received the tie. Christensen noticed Pedri’s impression and stated, “maintain my beer”, the Dane rising highest from a nook to nod within the winner along with his very first contact of the sport. In doing so, he grew to become the primary Barcelona participant to attain a Champions League aim on his birthday.
Beers all spherical then.
With the tie on the comfortable facet of the draw, there’s a actual likelihood for one in all these groups to make all of it the way in which to the ultimate. PSG have been the pre-game favourites to progress, however Barcelona’s win has this tie deliciously poised.
PSG vs Barcelona Timeline
PSG vs Barcelona Stats Centre
Our dwell Opta match centre delivers you all of the PSG vs Barcelona stats from Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Parc des Princes.
The match centre beneath contains crew and participant stats, anticipated objectives knowledge, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and extra. It provides you all the pieces you want to do your individual in-game and post-match evaluation.
PSG vs Barcelona Submit-Match Details
- Barcelona registered simply their second away UEFA Champions League win towards Paris Saint-Germain (D2 L3), additionally successful in April 2015 after they have been managed by Luis Enrique; present Barcelona supervisor Xavi appeared instead in that match.
- Paris Saint-Germain conceded three objectives in a house UEFA Champions League match for the primary time since dropping 3-1 to Manchester United in March 2019.
- There have been simply 134 seconds between Ousmane Dembélé equalising for PSG and Vitinha giving them the lead early within the second half, whereas there have been simply 71 seconds between Andreas Christensen being subbed on and scoring the winner for Barcelona within the 77th minute.
- Raphinha grew to become the primary Barcelona participant to attain his first UEFA Champions League aim for the membership in a quarter-final since Yaya Toure towards FC Schalke 04 in April 2008.
- Tonight was solely the third time Paris Saint-Germain had gone forward in a house UEFA Champions League match however went on to lose, additionally doing so in November 2000 (misplaced 3-1 to Deportivo de La Coruña) and April 2021 (misplaced 2-1 to Manchester Metropolis).
- Pedri assisted Raphinha’s second aim simply 51 seconds after approaching as an alternative to Barcelona tonight. He’s the youngest substitute (21y 137d) to help a aim for Barcelona in an away UEFA Champions League sport.
- For the reason that begin of final season, solely Robert Lewandowski (70) has been concerned in additional objectives in all competitions for Barcelona than Raphinha (18 objectives, 21 assists), with the Brazilian winger scoring six and aiding seven objectives in his final 14 begins.
- The 2 youngest gamers to ever begin a UEFA Champions League quarter ultimate did so for Barcelona tonight – Lamine Yamal (16 years, 272 days) and Pau Cubarsí (17 years, 79 days).
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