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
Luis Enrique bullish on PSG comeback chances
His side may be trailing by one goal heading into the second leg, but PSG boss Luis Enrique was full of confidence that his team will turn the tie around in Spain.
“We will press from minute one and they will play their game. When we have the ball we will try to create as many chances as possible,” he said in this press conference on Monday.
“The first match was hard fought by both teams but the result did not reflect what we deserved. The 3-2 scoreline means we have to go for the game.
“We are firmly convinced that we will turn the score around.”
Pep Guardiola gives Kyle Walker injury update ahead of Real Madrid tie
Manchester City captain Kyle Walker faces a late fitness test to see if he will be ready to face Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday.
The right-back has missed City’s last five games with an injury picked up in England’s defeat to Brazil last month, but returned to the bench in the 5-1 win over Luton on Saturday.
Manuel Akanji was given the task of facing Brazil winger Vinicius in last week’s first leg at the Bernabeu, as City and Real Madrid played out a 3-3 thriller.
Walker marked Vinicius out of the game as City defeated Real Madrid 4-0 at the Etihad in last season’s semi-finals, as Pep Guaridola’s side went on to win the Champions League for the first time.
Their match-up could be crucial again, and Guardiola hinted there is a chance Walker could start after the England international returned to training this week and was in good spirits ahead of the second leg.
Pep Guardiola gives Kyle Walker injury update ahead of Real Madrid tie
The Manchester City could return after five games out as Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr return to the Etihad
Remembering la remontada: Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain
Back in 2017, the Champions League saw one of its greatest-ever comebacks as Barcelona overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit against PSG thanks to a 6-1 home win in a game that became known in Spain and France as ‘la Remontada’ - the comeback in Catalan.
Three years ago, The Independent’s Miguel Delaney took a look back on the historical feature and how it all played out:
Remembering la remontada: Barcelona 6-1 PSG
As the two sides prepare to meet again in the Champions League knockout stages, Miguel Delaney looks back at the greatest comeback the competition has ever seen
Head-to-head
Barcelona’s first-leg victory narrowly pushed them ahead in the head-to-head record between both sides. The Spanish side have won five, while there have been four draws and four wins for PSG.
The last knockout tie between the two sides came in the 2020/21 tournament, where PSG won 5-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.
Xavi - ‘We are ready to suffer'
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Barcelona boss said his side were ready to suffer as they look to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 2019.
“It’s going to be a major football war,” the Spaniard said. “We are not a team that speculates, we will want to take the ball away from PSG and win the game. Hopefully we’ll be at our best. They’re going to demand a lot from us.”
“We need our fans to be loud because PSG will make us suffer, there’s no doubt about it, and we have to be a team to beat them. All of us, together.”
Lessons from the first leg
Barcelona came from behind to claim a dramatic 3-2 first-leg win at Paris Saint-Germain in another thrilling night of Champions League quarter-final action.
After a bright PSG start, Barcelona took control of the tie and Raphinha scored his first Champions League goal when Gianluigi Donnarumma spilled Lamine Yamal’s cross.
PSG were booed off the pitch as the half-time whistle blew at the Parc des Princes but Luis Enrique switched his team’s shape and it led to a stunning turnaround immediately after the restart.
Ousmane Dembele struck a thunderous finish to equalise against his former club and with the momentum now with the hosts, Vitinha cut through Barcelona just two minutes later to give PSG the lead.
But there would be another dramatic comeback, as Raphinha connected with an exquisite volley to drag Barcelona level. Andreas Christensen then came off the bench to head the winner from a corner, giving Barcelona a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg next week.
Here’s what we learnt from the first leg in Paris:
Kylian Mbappe anonymous as Barcelona edge PSG in Champions League thriller
PSG 2-3 Barcelona: It was a quiet night for the home star as Barca came from behind to win a dramatic quarter-final first leg
Pep Guardiola sends Man City fresh Champions League warning ahead of Real Madrid return
Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City to retain the hunger required to win the Champions League rather than being complacent because they lifted the trophy last season.
City face Real Madrid in the second leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday after securing a 3-3 draw in the Bernabeu last week, with manager Guardiola saying they should not feel under less pressure because they ended their long wait to become champions of Europe.
He said: “We need to feel the pressure that you don’t want to lose the game. If you think we have done it already, we will not have this piece of hunger to compete against these teams. It’s true that the fact we won it has made us feel better and more comfortable but we need the right energy. Our people at home will help us a lot.”
Pep Guardiola sends Man City fresh Champions League warning ahead of Real Madrid tie
Guardiola has insisted there will be no repeat of last season’s 4-0 win as he warned City against complacency
Barcelona vs PSG tips: Champions League predictions, football odds & best bets
It’s advantage Barcelona after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain, but if the history of this fixture is anything to go by, a second leg comeback on Tuesday can’t be ruled out (8pm, TNT Sports 1).
Football betting sites make Barca odds-on to qualify for the semi-finals after an impressive 3-2 win in Paris last week with a brace from the inspired Raphinha and a late Andreas Christensen goal settling matters in the Spaniards’ favour.
PSG have been pushed out to 3/1 in the Champions League odds to advance to the last four after an underwhelming first leg in which they looked defensively vulnerable, failing to protect a 2-1 lead given to them in the second half by goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.
Kylian Mbappe was kept remarkably quiet by Barca, receiving a 3/10 rating from French newspaper L’Equipe for his performance, and PSG coach Luis Enrique will hope for much better from his star man as he takes his current charges back to his old stomping ground.
Barcelona vs PSG tips: Champions League predictions, football odds & best bets
Barcelona and PSG are set to serve up another Champions League cracker on Tuesday evening
Barcelona vs PSG
Predicted line-ups
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Hernandez: Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz; Dembele, Ramos, Mbappe.
Barcelona vs PSG: Early team news
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, particularly with Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen suspended. Gavi and Alejandro Balde are longer-term absentees.
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.
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