Mbappe for the win (©Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Mbappe for the win (©Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

UCL: Three red cards, Dembele and Mbappe kill Barca in shocking PSG comeback

Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 17.04.24. | 00:06

Without Araujo, Xavi and his assistant coach, the Blaugrana just couldn't hold on to a two-goal overall lead and lost 4-1 for 6-4 defeat on aggregate

Paris Saint-Germain are in the Champions League semi-final after a sensational comeback and paramount 4-1 away win against Barcelona on Tuesday night (6-4 on aggregate)!

Luis Enrique's side was seriously flirting with an elimination, one could say a deserved one, but in the end, the Saints have survived the Catalan cauldron remarkably to continue dreaming. Dembele's second goal against his former side, along with Kylian Mbappe's brace and some debatable officiating decided this exciting tie.

And what a game that was!

Shortly after the start, Barcelona placed one foot in the semi-finals as Raphinha netted again. After a brace at Parc des Princes, the Brazilian winger opened the scoring at the Estadi Olimpic. It was brilliant work from Lamine Yamal on the right-hand side before his cross found Raphinha in the heart of the box for 1-0.

However, despite being 4-2 on aggregate at that moment, Barcelona were still far away from securing the overall win.

The tension was back soon after Ronald Araujo was sent off for a last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola. The Uruguayan got the wrong side and opted to bring the PSG forward down rather than let him go through on goal.

Ten-men Barca then conceded their first goal of the night, and it was again - who else than - Ousmane Dembele. The former Blaugrana winger scored a single goal for the Parisians ahead of this UCL tie, and now he netted twice in two games against Barcelona.

At that point, the Catalans were still one goal up on aggregate, but PSG's furious second half was just around the corner.

Vitinha's resolute mid-range shot ended in the back of the net, triggering complete chaos on the pitch and causing more tension on the sidelines. Xavi was sent off for swearing at the referee, and it became even worse for the hosts when Joao Cancelo took down Dembele in the box for a deserved penalty. Mbappe had no mercy from the spot, and the Saints were finally in front, 5-4 on agg.

Faced with such a dreadful turnaround, the Blaugrana rushed for one that could save them and provide at least the extra time. It left the visitors with all the time and space in the world for counter-attacks, with one of them ending in Mbappe's second goal of the net as Ter Stegen managed to put a stop to the first two PSG's attempts, but not that last one coming from Mbappe.

Luis Enrique's slot will face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final, after the Germans' 5-4 victory over Atletico Madrid.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Quarterfinals - second leg

Tuesday

Dortmund - Atl. Madrid 4-2 (2-0)

/Brandt 34, Maatsen 39, Fullkrug 71, Sabitzer 74 - Hummels 49 og, Correa 64/

Dortmund win 5-4 on agg

Barcelona - PSG 1-4 (1-1)

/Raphinha 12 - Dembele 40, Vitinha 54, Mbappe 61 pen, 89/

PSG win 6-4 on agg

Wednesday

22:00: (2.45) Bayern (3.60) Arsenal (2.95) /first leg 2-2/

22:00: (1.67) Man.City (3.80) Real Madrid (5.30) /first leg 3-3/

***odds are subject to change***



tags

Paris Saint-GermainBarcelonaUEFA Champions LeagueXavi HernandezLuis EnriqueOusmane DembeleKylian Mbappe

Other News