Barcelona Ousted by PSG in Champions League Thriller
La Liga Giants Fall Short Despite First-Leg Victory
Paris, France - April 16, 2024
Paris Saint-Germain stunned Barcelona in a dramatic Champions League quarter-final second leg, overturning a 3-2 deficit from the first leg to reach the semi-finals. The French champions rallied from behind despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the game, securing a 3-1 victory on the night and a 5-4 aggregate triumph.
Barcelona, who had won the first leg in France, took the lead in the second leg through Ousmane Dembele's strike in the 20th minute. However, PSG responded with three unanswered goals from Kylian Mbappe, Marquinhos, and Lionel Messi to seal the victory.
PSG were given a major boost when Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets was sent off in the 30th minute for a reckless tackle on Mbappe. The red card proved to be a turning point in the match, as PSG seized the initiative and dominated possession.
Mbappe, the star of the night, scored his first goal in the 32nd minute with a clinical finish inside the box. Marquinhos equalized for PSG in the 70th minute with a header from a corner, and Messi completed the comeback in the 94th minute with a penalty kick.
Barcelona's elimination marks a disappointing end to their European campaign. Despite their strong performance in the first leg, they were unable to maintain their momentum in the second leg and ultimately fell short of reaching the semi-finals.
No comments :
Post a Comment