PLAYER RATINGS | Barcelona 1-4 PSG – Les Parisiens qualify for UCL semi-finals with huge comeback victory

UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg, 16/04/2024

Barcelona 1-4 Paris Saint-Germain (4-6 on aggregate)

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind against Barcelona to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League with an emphatic and historic 4-1 victory away from home. Luis Enrique became the first ex-Barça manager to knock out the Catalan side in the Champions League, whilst Les Parisiens turn around an away deficit in the Champions League knockout second leg for the very first time thanks to goals from Dembélé, Vitinha, and a brace from Kylian Mbappé,.

PSG needed a performance of historic proportions away from home to try and overturn last week’s chaotic 3-2 loss at the Parc des Princes. Luis Enrique’s men began the game with plenty of intent, dominating the ball in the early stages and managing to work the ball into the box. Yet, it was the Catalan side who managed to open the scoring (albeit against the run of play) by the 11th minute. Barça’s Lamine Yamal drove down the right side and provided a perfect square ball for a well-positioned Raphinha to turn home to open the scoring for the home side.

With the aggregate lead set at 4-2, things were looking increasingly desperate for PSG, but Kylian Mbappé had two great chances to reduce the lead — firstly with a low shot on goal, and then a header which flew over the bar. Les Parisiens would then be handed a potential route back into the game, as Ronald Ajaúro was immediately sent off for bringing down Bradley Barcola who was bearing down on goal after beating the Barça defender for pace.

PSG would then get a deserved goal to get them back into the tie through Ousmane Dembélé, after a wicked pass flashed in front of the six-yard box by Bradley Barcola. The former