Ahead of the second leg of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain, Blaugrana boss Xavi promised “a footballing war” on Tuesday. What he didn’t account for, though, was just how much of a role he and his own team would play in their own downfall.
The soon-to-depart coach lost his head as madness unfolded before him at the Olympic Stadium, with mistakes from Ronald Araujo and Joao Cancelo – combined with clinical finishing from Kylian Mbappe – meaning Barca blew the aggregate lead they had built up from the first leg, and which they soon added to thanks to Raphinha’s third goal of the tie.
Araujo’s moment of madness, however, changed the coiurse of Barca’s European adventure. Just under 30 minutes in, the Uruguayan defender dragged down Bradley Barcola as he ran through on goal, leaving the referee with no choice but to send him off.
The Parisians, predictably, capitalised, piling on the pressure as Luis Enrique switched his system to allow his side to pour forward. In the end, it was Ousmane Dembele who took advantage, finishing a well-crafted move with an emphatic effort into the roof of the net. The visitors then completed their turnaround after the break, as Vitinha levelled the tie with a guided strike from outside the box before Kylian Mbappe converted from the spot either side of Xavi losing his head and seeing red himself.
Mbappe rounded out the scoring shortly before the full-time whistle, reaping the benefits of another Blaugrana blunder – this time a poor clearance from Jules Kounde – to smash home with from close-range.
By the end of it all, Xavi’s footballing war had ended in defeat, as PSG’s players celebrated banishing the ghost of La Remontada. Barca, meanwhile, were left to rue their mistakes and wonder what might have been if they had simply kept their heads on the night.
GOAL breaks down the biggest winners & losers from the Olympic Stadium…
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Getty ImagesWINNER: Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe may be on his way out of PSG, but he has always maintained his promise to do everything he can to bring European glory to the French capital. Thus far, though, his mission has been a tale of failure after failure, most of which have not reflected well on the World Cup winner. However, this season – his last at Parc des Princes – might just prove to be his best shot at ending the misery.
After an underwhelming first-leg performance, Mbappe was again quiet for long periods on Tuesday, as he was locked down by Kounde and Pau Cubarsi. However, in the end, Mbappe proved decisive in the big moments. He converted from the penalty spot to give PSG the lead on aggregate, and was clinical from inside the six-yard box to score the goal that put the tie to bed for good.
Mbappe could barely have asked for a more favourable opponent than Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, meaning a place in the final at Wembley on June 1 is well within reach. Whichever team comes out of the other side of the bracket will undoubtedly be favoured in that final, but Mbappe’s hopes of a perfect parting gift are suddenly within touching distance.
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Getty ImagesLOSER: Ronald Araujo
What were you thinking, Ronald?! The Uruguayan was one of the best defenders in Europe last season, a reliable source of quality at the back as the Blaugrana eased to a La Liga title. He hasn’t quite been the same this campaign, though, as injuries and poor performances have marred his season.
On Tuesday, though, he made his most high-profile and costly blunder. He chose to engage Barcola as he ran through on goal, clearly fouling the winger narrowly outside the box. Araujo protested, arguing that fellow centre-back Cubarsi could have slid across to deny the PSG forward a shot on goal, but his complaints rightly fell on deaf ears.
It proved to be the turning point of the whole tie, as Barca were forced to sit back and defend their lead, while PSG were given space to play the devastating football they are capable of. The visitors got the job done, and with La Liga pretty much out of reach, Araujo’s poor decision now has Barca facing a trophy-less campaign.
Source Goal.com
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