Barcelona vs PSG LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Kylian Mbappe brace completes comeback
Barcelona 1-4 PSG (4-6 agg): PSG will know face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals
Paris Saint-Germain produced a stunning comeback on a thrilling night in the Champions League to dump Barcelona out at the quarter-final stage 6-4 on aggregate.
After the first leg Barcelona brought a one-goal lead into the match and opened the scoring in the night with a fortuitous touch from Raphinha beating Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post.
PSG looked to get back in the game and were gifted the initiative after a mistimed challenge from Ronald Araujo saw the defender sent off inside the first half and hour.
That red card changed the momentum of the match and Ousmane Dembele took advantage to pull PSG level on the night before a long-ranged strike from Vitinha equalised the aggregate scores.
The visitors then won a penalty in the second half with Kylian Mbappe calmly slotting in home before putting the icing on the cake with Paris’ fourth in 89th minute.
Relive the updates from Barcelona vs PSG in the blog, below, and get all the latest match odds and tips here
How PSG could line up
PSG predicted XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Hernandez: Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz; Dembele, Ramos, Mbappe.
PSG early team news
Paris Saint-Germain welcome back Achraf Hakimi from suspension, which could lead to a defensive reshuffle. Luis Enrique may also consider starting Goncalo Ramos and Warren Zaire-Emery, both used as substitutes in the first leg.
“Tomorrow we’ll have to show a different version of ourselves and outdo ourselves. We’ve had time to prepare and now we’re ready,” Enrique said on Monday. “Everyone in the team wants to win and we know exactly what we want to do. We’re convinced we can turn things around.”
How Barcelona could line up
Barcelona predicted XI: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Barcelona team news
We should be getting team news in about 40 minutes but let’s start by taking a look at the confirmed team news.
Barcelona will be without Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen who are suspended, while Gavi and Alejandro Balde are longer-term absentees. Pedri had an impact off the bench in the first leg and said on Monday that he is ready to start tonight.
"The absence of Robert and Christensen will be noticeable, Xavi said in his press conference.
"We would need them because there are moments in the games, and I would say that they are sensitive losses. Their absence is bad for us because we don't have many options in the centre of the field.”
The motivation inspiring Bernardo Silva and Man City to new heights
If the treble was history, the double treble would be legacy. Bernardo Silva has an eye on a hat-trick of achievements that would echo through the ages. Manchester City won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League last season, a feat only previously accomplished by Manchester United in 1998-99.
In the last three decades, since the European Cup evolved into the Champions League, only Real Madrid have retained the trophy. Until, perhaps, City this season. And since the English league was established in 1888, no team has won four successive titles. With six games to go, City are two points clear at the top of the table, their fate entirely in their own hands.
For all Silva’s eloquence in possession, he has rarely been as outspoken in his ambition. Repeat the treble and City could have a claim to be the greatest side ever; a title which many currently afford to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Silva does not shy away from the idea. “It is obviously inspiration and motivation,” he said.
“We know how well this team has done and we want to create that legacy and to do another Premier League, to do six in seven years and four in a row, And we want to win the Champions League, to do two in a row. Only Madrid did three in a row but no one else won consecutive Champions League and if we win two trebles in a row that would be legacy.”
Read more from Manchester City’s key man below:
The motivation inspiring Bernardo Silva and Man City to new heights
History beckons for Man City as Real Madrid stand in their way in a Champions League quarter-final second leg
Why Premier League is now at risk of missing out on fifth Champions League spot
The Premier League’s hopes of gaining an extra Champions League spot in next season’s revamped competition have been dealt a blow following a difficult week of results in Europe this week.
The Champions League is being expanded to a 36-team tournament from 2024/25 and two of the extra four places will be awarded to countries whose teams perform best in this season’s European competitions.
As confirmed by Uefa on their website, England sits third in the race, behind Italy and Germany, which would mean Serie A and the Bundesliga get a fifth Champions League place next season.
Spurs currently hold fourth place in the Premier League - the final automatic spot as things stand - they are level on points with Villa but have a game in hand on Unai Emery’s side. Manchester United are 11 points off fifth, but also have a game in hand on Villa.
Why Premier League is now at risk of missing out on fifth Champions League spot
It was a tough week for English clubs in Europe
Will Barcelona or Atletico Madrid reach the Club World Cup?
FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup will be held for the first time in the summer of 2025 with 32 teams set to feature. With Real Madrid already securing their spot, there is just one place remaining for another Spanish side in the tournament.
Barcelona’s tie with PSG and Atletico Madrid’s game against Borussia Dortmund will play a huge part in who qualifies. Here are some of the permutations.
- If Atletico Madrid achieve a better second-leg result, Barcelona will no longer be able to overtake them in the rankings and can only displace them as European champions. If Barcelona are knocked out by PSG, Atletico’s place would also be secured.
- If Atletico win the second leg against Dortmund - who have already secured their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 place - Barcelona can only qualify via the rankings pathway by winning the quarter-final second leg, defeating Atletico in both semi-final legs and losing the final in a penalty shoot-out.
Mbappe lethal on away soil
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé has scored 13 goals in 11 away games in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, while only Cristiano Ronaldo (23 goals in 39 games) and Karim Benzema (14 goals in 34 games) have netted more away from home in the knockout rounds of the tournament.
The Frenchman will hope to be back to his best after a quiet first-leg showing.
Barca looking to maintain unbeaten run
Since the surprise announcement that head coach Xavi would leave at the end of the season, Barcelona have been unbeaten in 13 games, a run which has seen them close the gap on Real Madrid to eight points at the top of La Liga.
Can they extend that run tonight?
Pedri ready to start
After a wonderful assist with virtually his first touch after returning from injury off the bench last week, Pedri may be promoted to Xavi’s starting side for tonight’s game. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the midfielder said he was ready to start.
“Am I ready for 90 minutes tomorrow? I feel really good physically,” the Spaniard said. “I’ve always said that I prefer to play 80 minutes and give 100% and when I get tired, ask for a substitution.
“PSG will come tomorrow with everything at us. We need to approach this game forgetting the result from the first leg. The comeback in Paris was great, but we don’t want to be in a position like this again.
“We will give everything on the pitch and I hope that everyone will be with us at Montjuic.”
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