2024-09-06 15:00:33
The team led by Luis Enrique did not give Xavi Hernández’s men a chance and supported by Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola, they made it into the top four of the continental tournament.
The first half was a period of total domination by PSG. From the opening whistle of Romanian Istvan Kovacs, Luis Enrique’s team went out to mark the home side’s territory and put pressure on them at every turn.
Although the Parisian team did not let the Culés play, a flash of Lamine Yamal made the difference in the 12th minute.
The youngster got past Nuno Mendes, sent in a precise cross into the middle and Raphinha pushed it in to make it 1-0 at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys.
PSG did not feel the blow of the goal and continued with the same tonedeserving the draw for their attacks on Marc André ter Stegen’s goal.
The German goalkeeper became a giant in the 27th minute when he saved Kylian Mbappé from a shot that went against his leg, but two minutes later everything would change.
It was 29 minutes when Ronald Araújo fouled Bradley Barcola when he was entering the area and the referee showed him a direct red card.
This altered Xavi’s plans. and decided to take off Yamal, the most dangerous player he had in attack, to bring in Íñigo Martínez and rebuild the line of four.
After so much play, PSG got their reward with five minutes left in the first half.
Barcola faced Jules Koundé, put in a low cross and Ousmane Dembélé scored the equaliser with a great right-footed shot.
The second half continued in the same way as the first half, with PSG pressing all over the pitch and putting Barcelona in the crossbar.
Only 54 minutes had passed when Vitinha, just like in the first leg, scored the 2-1 for the Parisian team and thus equal the series on aggregate.
Dembélé continued to do his thing and in a control that went too far, Cancelo committed a childish penalty.
From the twelve steps, Mbappé did not failput the ball away from the German goalkeeper for the 3-1 at 61 minutes and thus unleash the madness of all the PSG fans who traveled to Catalonia.
From that moment on, PSG regulated but without giving up trying to finish off the series.
The only moment that PSG had any concern was a clear chance that Ferrán Torres had, but the enormous figure of Gianluigi Donnarumma appeared to save his goal.
As the match was coming to an end, a counterattack by Luis Enrique’s team put the game to bed.
Marc-André ter Stegen took out two platoons, his defense never helped him get the ball off and Mbappé scored his double for the final score of 4-1.
Finally, the aggregate score was 6-4 in favor of PSG and they made it to the semi-finals where they will face Borussia Dortmund.
Barcelona did not measure up at the Olympic Stadium. Since losing 5-3 to Villarreal on January 27, the Culés had not known defeat (10 wins and 3 draws). This loss is undoubtedly painful, as it leaves Xavi Hernández’s team with nothing to fight for in the remainder of the season, although mathematically they can still catch up with Real Madrid in La Liga but it will be difficult.