Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain rallied to defeat 10-man Barcelona 4-1 and advance to the Champions League semi-finals with a 6-4 aggregate win on Tuesday.
Raphinha put Barcelona ahead early on, but Ronald Araujo’s 29th-minute red card swung the game in PSG’s favor, despite the Spanish champions leading by two goals after a 3-2 quarter-final first leg triumph.
Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha leveled the tie for PSG, then Mbappe scored twice to propel them into the final four for the first time since 2021.
Despite significant investment, the French champions have yet to win the Cup, but they have proved that they have the attacking weapons in their roster to succeed.
Five-time winners. Barcelona were hoping for their first semi-final appearance since 2019, but Araujo’s red card for dragging down the persistent Bradley Barcola weakened their hold on the tie.
PSG coach Luis Enrique, who guided Barcelona to the Champions League in 2015, predicted that his team will turn things around despite never having done so following a first-leg setback, and he was correct.
The visitors started strong and pinned Barcelona back in their own zone, but the hosts gained the lead.
Explosive Lamine Yamal, a 16-year-old youngster, sprinted past Nuno Mendes and crossed to the near post, where Raphinha scored despite Achraf Hakimi’s pressure.
It was the Brazilian winger’s third goal in the tie, following his brace in Paris.
Robert Lewandowski missed another opportunity for Barcelona before Barcola turned the tie in PSG’s favour. Jules Kounde, his French compatriot, struggled to deal with the winger.
Barcola set up Mbappe, but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved him effectively, and Araujo was sent off for taking him down.
The Uruguayan center-back drew Barcola back as he burst into the area, leaving Barcelona with ten men.
Dembele’s resulting free kick went narrowly over, but he quickly hit the net, like he had in the first game.
The former Barcelona winger scored after 40 minutes from another Barcola cross that sailed across the area to the back post, where Dembele was waiting to blast into the top of the net.
Following Araujo’s red card, Barcelona sacrificed Yamal for defender Inigo Martinez, leaving them with few attacking options.
No escape
With PSG dominating the game, Barcelona quickly paid the price for their inability to maintain possession.
Vitinha was allowed far too much room on the edge of the box, and he fired into the bottom corner to put PSG up for the night.
Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan hit the post from the other end before coach Xavi was sent out for dissent on the touchline.
The Catalans were losing their composure, and Joao Cancelo carelessly fouled Dembele, giving PSG a penalty.
Mbappe, who had been kept quiet in the first leg, fired it into the top corner for his 40th goal in all competitions.
The striker’s future may be in Spain, with Real Madrid hoping to recruit him in the summer when his contract expires, and he won no friends in Barcelona by jumping over advertising hoardings and sprinting towards fans to celebrate.
Another member of Barcelona’s backroom staff was fired after Gundogan’s penalty appeal was denied and it became evident that the hosts would not respond.
Mbappe sealed the game in the 89th minute after a brilliant Ter Stegen double save, leaving Barcelona with another bitterly disappointing night in Europe.