PSG Reverses First-Leg Deficit, Secures Victory Over Barcelona in Champions League Quarter-Finals
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled off a stunning comeback against Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash, overturning their 1-3 home defeat to secure a 4-1 victory at the Camp Nou. The result gave PSG a 5-3 aggregate win, sending them through to the semi-finals of the competition.
Mbappé Magic Drives PSG’s Triumph
The catalyst for PSG’s victory was Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice on the night to add to his first-leg goal and complete a hat-trick against Barcelona. The French forward’s first goal came in the 31st minute, a clinical finish from close range after a superb pass from Lionel Messi.
Just before the hour mark, Mbappé struck again, this time with a powerful strike from outside the area that left Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen with no chance. The goal put PSG in control of the tie, and they never looked back.
Messi’s Goal Not Enough for Barca
Barcelona had taken the lead in the match through a Lionel Messi penalty in the 27th minute, but it proved to be a mere consolation as PSG dominated the rest of the game. Despite having a man advantage from the 56th minute onwards after Sergio Roberto’s red card, Barcelona failed to find a way back into the tie.
PSG Face Bayern Munich in Semi-Finals
With their victory over Barcelona, PSG have booked a semi-final clash against Bayern Munich, who eliminated Real Madrid in the previous round. The first leg of the semi-final will be played on April 19, 2023, at the Parc des Princes, with the second leg to be played in Munich on April 26.
Quotes from the Match
“We made mistakes in the first leg, we were not clinical enough in the final third. But today we were able to turn things around. We played with a lot of heart and determination, and we deserved the win.” – Kylian Mbappé, PSG forward
“We are very disappointed with the result. We played a good game, but PSG were superior to us tonight. They have great players, and they were able to punish our mistakes.” – Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona manager
Mehek