Match ends, Paris Saint Germain 2, Barcelona 3.
PSGParis Saint Germain2BarcelonaBarcelona3
Five-time winners Barcelona came from behind to earn a slender advantage over Paris St-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in France.
Xavi's side were in danger of being overawed by a hostile Parisian crowd but the Barcelona boss used his bench to magnificent effect to turn the tie in their favour.
Brazil winger Raphinha gave them the lead, sweeping home a loose ball for his first Champions League goal after Gianluigi Donnarumma could only parry a low cross.
PSG responded immediately after the break though, with Ousmane Dembele firing into the roof of the net after a poor clearance and Vitinha finding the far corner after being fed in down the right.
Substitute Bradley Barcola then hit the bar for the hosts as they swarmed all over a Barcelona side playing at this stage of the competition for the first time since 2020.
Spain midfielder Pedri was introduced and his impact was immediate with a delightful ball over the PSG defence superbly volleyed home by Raphinha with the outside of his right foot.
Dembele clipped the outside of the post as both sides pressed, but it was Barcelona sub Andreas Christensen who found the winner, heading home a corner from four yards after being left unmarked in the centre of the goal.
The second leg takes place in Spain on Tuesday, 16 April.
New-look Barcelona find a way
In the build-up to the match, PSG boss Luis Enrique claimed he played the Barcelona way "better" than Xavi.
That may be the case, but Xavi has found a different way of playing and his side showed immense courage to turn the game around when under immense pressure.
This is a mixed side in terms of experience, with Ilkay Gundogan and Robert Lewandowski offering plenty - but in 17-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi and 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, they had the two youngest players to start a Champions League quarter-final.
They soaked up early pressure but then showed a willingness to go longer and in behind the PSG defence, and that brought the rewards of the first goal.
PSG responded in superb fashion at the start of the second half and threatened to take a decisive advantage in the tie, but Xavi showed brilliant nous with his substitutions.
Pedri is returning from injury, so is having to be managed, but his ball for Raphinha was sublime, matched by the finish from the former Leeds man.
The visitors has been a threat from corners throughout, with Donnarumma looking unusually uncomfortable, and the Italian goalkeeper was rooted to his line for Christensen's winner as PSG suffered just an eighth home defeat in 74 European ties.
The tie is far from over and Barcelona, who have only qualified from this stage once in their past five attempts, will have to progress without Christensen and captain Sergi Roberto, with both picking up bookings in Paris.
Player of the match
RaphinhaRaphinha
with an average of 8.51
Paris Saint Germain
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameDembéléAverage rating
6.00
- Squad number33Player nameZaïre-EmeryAverage rating
5.37
- Squad number5Player nameMarquinhosAverage rating
5.35
- Squad number17Player nameVitinhaAverage rating
5.25
- Squad number25Player nameNuno MendesAverage rating
5.17
- Squad number21Player nameHernándezAverage rating
5.13
- Squad number19Player nameLee Kang-inAverage rating
5.03
- Squad number29Player nameBarcolaAverage rating
4.96
- Squad number99Player nameG DonnarummaAverage rating
4.95
- Squad number11Player nameAsensioAverage rating
4.83
- Squad number8Player nameRuizAverage rating
4.73
- Squad number9Player nameGonçalo RamosAverage rating
4.68
- Squad number35Player nameBeraldoAverage rating
4.66
- Squad number7Player nameMbappéAverage rating
4.43
Line-ups
PSG
Formation 4-3-3
- 99G Donnarumma
- 5Marquinhos
- 21Hernández
- 35Lopes BeraldoBooked at 89mins
- 25Nuno Mendes
- 19Lee Kang-inSubstituted forZaïre-Emeryat 61'minutes
- 17VitinhaBooked at 65mins
- 8RuizSubstituted forGonçalo Ramosat 85'minutes
- 10Dembélé
- 11AsensioSubstituted forBarcolaat 45'minutes
- 7Mbappé
Substitutes
- 1Navas
- 4Ugarte
- 9Gonçalo Ramos
- 15Danilo
- 23Kolo Muani
- 28Soler
- 29Barcola
- 33Zaïre-Emery
- 37Skriniar
- 41Mayulu
- 42Zague
- 80Tenas
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 23Koundé
- 4Araujo
- 33CubarsíBooked at 82mins
- 2Cancelo
- 22GündoganSubstituted forLópezat 86'minutesBooked at 89mins
- 20RobertoBooked at 34minsSubstituted forPedriat 61'minutes
- 21F de JongSubstituted forChristensenat 75'minutesBooked at 88mins
- 27YamalSubstituted forJoão Félixat 61'minutes
- 9Lewandowski
- 11RaphinhaSubstituted forF Torresat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Martínez
- 7F Torres
- 8Pedri
- 13Peña Sotorres
- 14João Félix
- 15Christensen
- 17Alonso
- 18Romeu
- 19Roque Ferreira
- 26Astralaga
- 32López
- 39Fort
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 47,470
Match Stats
Home TeamPSGAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away7
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Paris Saint Germain 2, Barcelona 3.
Post update
Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Ronald Araujo.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé.
Booking
Beraldo (Paris Saint Germain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Booking
Fermín López (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Beraldo (Paris Saint Germain).
Post update
Jules Koundé (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Andreas Christensen (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Andreas Christensen (Barcelona).
Post update
Attempt missed. Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bradley Barcola with a cross.
Post update
Lucas Hernández (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by João Cancelo (Barcelona).
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Fermín López replaces Ilkay Gündogan.
Substitution
Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Gonçalo Ramos replaces Fabián Ruiz.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé.
Booking
Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona).
Comments
Join the conversation
Sloppy defending cost PSG the winner but proper top-flight football all the same.
Both sides with players who can protect the ball while moving at real speed and then pass the ball accurately to maintain the momentum (PL players please take note).
All in all a pleasant watch, particularly as there was no personal stake in the result !!
Another great match. Attacking football with officials not falling for any diving nonsense that has sometimes spoilt European games in the past.