PSG through to CL semi after huge turnaround against Barça

Barcelona had a 3-2 lead to go on from the first quarter-final round against Paris Saint-Germain. On Tuesday evening, the double meeting was decided, when the French visited the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Catalonia.

Compared to the first meeting, PSG made four changes to the eleven. Achraf Hakimi, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Bradley Barcola stepped in from the start. In Barcelona, ​​Pedri started for the first time in six weeks after his injury.

Once the match got underway, it was PSG who started the most energetically. The home fans immediately showed their displeasure towards ex-player Ousmane Dembélé, who celebrated his goal against Barça in the first leg. He had to receive boos at every touch of the ball.

Despite the visitors’ lively start, it was Barcelona who took the lead. Just over ten minutes had been played when Lamine Yamal took off from his right wing, dribbled past Nuno Mendes and struck a cross that headed Raphinha’s leg into the goal.

– The preparatory work is absolutely excellent by Lamine Yamal, roared TV4 Play’s commentator Adam Pinthorp in the broadcast.

– Tough (for PSG). It was actually Barça’s first attack. They haven’t had anything during the introduction, added expert Olof Mellberg.

Expelled after half an hour

At that point, PSG needed to catch up with two goals to take the quarter-final to extra time. And in the 29th minute they got good help along the way.

In a quick attack, Ronald Araújo brought down PSG’s Bradley Barcola, who was about to break free. The Barça centre-back had to see the red card, which meant that the Catalans were forced to end the meeting with ten men.

– There is not much touch when he falls. But you have to be incredibly careful when you fall behind as a defensive player. You have to try to stay away and not make contact at all, because at the slightest thing you risk this, said Mellberg.

Shortly afterwards, PSG equalized to make it 1-1.

Barcola hit a low cross that found its way all the way back to the far post where Dembélé appeared alone and pushed the ball distinctively into the roof of the net.

– It’s a good ending, one might say. There weren’t that many places to put it in there. But he did it really well! praised Mellberg in the broadcast.

Xavi sent off – PSG silenced the stadium

At the start of the second half, PSG leveled the doubleheader at 4-4 on aggregate. Vitinha received the ball outside the penalty area and fired a well-aimed long shot that found its way into the goal to make it 2-1 in the match.

– Well placed shot. He is in great shape! exclaimed Mellberg.

Shortly after the goal, Barça’s head coach Xavi Hernández was sent off after strongly protesting a decision. Among other things, he kicked over material that was at the substitutes’ benches.

In the 60th minute, PSG took the lead in the doubleheader. João Cancelo knocked over Dembélé in the penalty area whereupon the referee blew his pipe. Kylian Mbappé then stepped up to the penalty spot and safely slotted in 3-1 (5-4 on aggregate) to the French.

– He silences the Olympic Stadium! What total darkness for Barcelona, ​​said Pinthorp in the broadcast.

In the final minutes, PSG put the nail in the coffin when Kylian Mbappé sent in his second goal of the evening from close range.

– There are wild scenes of joy! “Everyone from PSG’s bench gathers in a ring behind the goal,” Pinthorp said.

PSG eventually won the match 4-1 and beat Barcelona 6-4 on aggregate over two games. Now awaits the semi-final against Borussia Dortmund for the French capital giant.

In parallel, Dortmund knocked out Atlético Madrid.

Starting XI:

Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma – Hakimi, Marquinhos, Hernández, Mendes – Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz – Dembélé, Mbappé, Barcola.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsi, Cancelo – Pedri, de Jong, Gundogan – Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.