Paris Saint-Germain, playing with an extra man for over an hour, staged a remarkable comeback against Barcelona to secure a spot in the Champions League semifinals.
Kylian Mbappé shined by scoring twice, helping PSG overturn their first-leg home defeat with a 4-1 victory over Barcelona. This win led them to advance 6-4 on aggregate, maintaining their aspirations for a maiden European title, especially in Mbappé’s farewell season with the club.
Additionally, former Barcelona player Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha found the net for PSG. The turning point came in the 29th minute when Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo received a red card for fouling Bradley Barcola during a potential breakaway.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández lamented the red card decision, stating it drastically altered the game’s dynamics. Barcelona had initially taken the lead with a Raphinha goal in the 12th minute but struggled to regain momentum after going a man down.
PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, expressed his pride in the team’s performance, highlighting their mental resilience and determination to outperform Barcelona despite conceding an early goal.
With this victory, PSG breaks their streak of two consecutive eliminations in the round of 16.
On the same day, Borussia Dortmund secured their semifinal spot with a thrilling 4-2 win over Atlético Madrid, advancing 5-4 on aggregate. Dortmund will now face PSG in the semifinals, setting up an exciting encounter.
Mbappé’s performance was outstanding with goals in the 61st and 89th minutes. He’s aiming to clinch his first Champions League title with PSG before departing from the club.
The semifinals promise to be electrifying as Dortmund and PSG meet again. The Champions League final will take place on June 1 in London.