Kylian Mbappe seals stunning comeback for PSG to book Champions League semi spot
PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
KYLIAN Mbappe capped a stunning Paris Saint-Germain comeback as the French side took full advantage to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals after Barcelona imploded following the first half dismissal of Ronald Araujo.
Leading 3-2 from the first leg in France, the La Liga side appeared on course for the last four when they doubled their aggregate lead through Raphinha.
However, the 28th minute dismissal of Araujo transformed the tie as the visitors hit back through Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha before an Mbappe penalty and the striker’s 89th minute second completed the turnaround. A miserable night for Barcelona was completed by red card for Xavi, the manager, and one of his assistants.
For PSG coach Luis Enrique, this was a memorable return to the club where he spent 14 years as player and manager. Enrique knew history was against his current side with PSG having won only four of the 14 previous meetings between the two teams while he also pointed out before hand that the French club had never overturned a first leg deficit away from home.
Enrique though insisted his side deserved to come into this game at least on level terms and claimed there was no shortage of confidence among his players that they could progress.
That was evident in the way they approached the game, dominating the ball during the opening stages, but the positive start came to an abrupt halt after Barca launched their first serious attack of the evening and doubled their aggregate lead.
Araujo found the Lamine Yamal on the right and the exciting 16-year-old burst past Nuno Mendes, the PSG left-back, and drilled in a low cross that was flew past Gianluigi Donnarumma off Raphnha’s shin. Twelve minutes in and Barcelona had an enviable comfort zone.
Deflated, PSG were fortunate not to fall further behind when Robert Lewandowski flashed a shot narrowly over the bar but there were signs Enrique’s side had got over that early setback when Kylian Mbappe made his first significant contribution of the night when his first time shot was well saved by Barca keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen.
That opportunity had been created by Bradley Barcola, the France under-21 international who was causing problems for the right hand side of the Barcelona defence. And a minute later, the winger broke clear only to be tripped just outside the penalty area by Araujo. The Barcelona defender was dismissed and the momentum of the game shifted.
The visitors made the most of the extra man, once again controlling the game and were rewarded when they drew level five minutes before the break. Inevitably Barcola was involved, this time delivering a teasing cross that found it’s way through to Dembele who finished confidently at the far post.
Ter Stegen’s unconvincing attempt to keep out Achraf Hakimi’s shot did nothing for Barcelona’s nerves and the Spanish side were unable to find a way to relieve the pressure being applied by the visitors.
They didn’t help their cause, however, when they failed to close down Vitinha from a corner and the PSG took full advantage, beating Ter Stegen with a low shot from 25 yards to give his side a 55th minute lead and level the aggregate score.
Finally Barca responded with Ilkay Gundogan struck the post but the dismissal of Xavi for kicking a hoarding was a further sign they were losing their way. Joao Cancelo’s ill-judged challenge on Dembele when the winger was heading away from goal confirmed it wasn’t just the coach who had lost his composure, with Mbappe making no mistake with the resulting penalty.
Mbappe added his second late on after yet another defensive mistake by the hosts.
Ter Stegen 6; Kounde 5, Araujo 4, Cubarsi 6, Cancelo 4 (Felix 82, 6); Gundogan 6, Pedri 5 (Torres 62, 6), De Jong 5 (Fermin 82, 6); Yamal 6 (Martinez 34), 6 Lewandowski 6, Raphinha 6.
Pena, Astralaga, Alonso, Romeu, Vitor Roque, Casado, Guiu, Fort.
Donnarumma 6; Hakimi 6, Marquinhos 7, Hernandez 7, Mendes 6; Ruiz 6 (Asensio77, 6), Vitinha 8, Zaire-Emery 7 (Ugarte 80, 6); Dembele 8 (Kolo Muani 88, 6), Mbappe 7, Barcola 9 (Lee 77, 6).
Navas, Ramos, Pereira, Mukiele, Soler, Beraldo, Tenas, Skriniar.
Istvan Kovacs (Romania) 5
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