Kylian Mbappe anonymous as Barcelona edge PSG in Champions League thriller

Barcelona got here from behind to say a dramatic 3-2 first-leg win at Paris Saint-Germain in one other thrilling evening of Champions League quarter-final motion.

After a shiny PSG begin, Barcelona took management of the tie and Raphinha scored his first Champions League objective when Gianluigi Donnarumma spilled Lamine Yamal’s cross.

PSG had been booed off the pitch because the half-time whistle blew on the Parc des Princes however Luis Enrique switched his crew’s form and it led to a surprising turnaround instantly after the restart.

Ousmane Dembele struck a thunderous end to equalise towards his former membership and with the momentum now with the hosts, Vitinha minimize by way of Barcelona simply two minutes later to present PSG the lead.

However there could be one other dramatic comeback, as Raphinha related with an beautiful volley to tug Barcelona degree. Andreas Christensen then got here off the bench to move the winner from a nook, giving Barcelona a slim benefit forward of the return leg subsequent week.

Right here’s what we realized from one other thrilling evening of Champions League motion

Kylian Mbappe disappears as different stars shine in thriller

One other thrilling evening within the Champions League, however the place was Kylian Mbappe? After the drama on the Emirates and Bernabeu final evening, the Parc des Princes staged one other beautiful quarter-final first leg as Barcelona got here from behind to beat PSG and take a lead again to Spain.

There have been good attacking performances everywhere in the pitch, significantly from Barcelona ahead Raphinha – as the previous Leeds attacker scored his first Champions League objectives, together with an beautiful volley from Pedri’s chipped by way of ball. On the different finish, Ousmane Dembele took cost to guide the fightback after half-time, scoring a rocket of an equaliser towards his former membership.

Mbappe, although, was largely nameless, barely having a contact not to mention an electrical dribble or probability aside from a late, late shot that deflected large. A burst of tempo rescued the ball from the byline, simply earlier than Dembele lashed into the roof of the online, however that was it and Jules Kounde, Mbappe’s worldwide teammate, did an impressive job in marking him.

Mbappe is predicted to depart PSG on the finish of the season, and if this was his final Champions League look in Paris, it was a flat approach to exit.

Barcelona expose PSG’s delicate centre as Donnarumma struggles

One other massively disappointing evening for Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League, with defensive frailty on the coronary heart of the issue as soon as once more in an enormous knockout tie.

On the centre of it was goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who by no means seemed comfy coping with crosses as Barcelona focused the Italy worldwide with a collection of inswinging deliveries early on. Donnarumma didn’t cowl himself in glory when he spilled Yamal’s cross, resulting in Raphinha’s opener, and he then did not command his field late on as Christensen headed Barcelona into the lead. It had been coming.

There have been issues in entrance of Donnarumma, too, attributable to a terrific all-round centre-forward show from Robert Lewandowski. The 35-year-old was glorious together with his again to objective, profitable his duels with Marquinhos and Lucas Beraldo, turning brilliantly to take three PSG gamers out of the sport within the transfer that led to Raphinha’s opener.

As for PSG, the place was the defensive resilience and solidity? It has value the Parisians within the Champions League as soon as once more.

Xavi and Luis Enrique face off in thrilling tactical battle

This was an evening for the influence substitute. Each Xavi and Luis Enrique had been in a position to change the rhythm and momentum of the sport with their substitutions, resulting in an absorbing contest between the managers on the touchline, in addition to the gamers on the pitch.

Barcelona supervisor Xavi greater than held his personal towards his former Barca boss Enrique, and his alternative of beginning line-up allowed the guests to take management of their quarter-final. Xavi additionally switched up his techniques, going direct to Robert Lewandowski, who PSG couldn’t cope with within the opening levels.

However Enrique took motion at half-time, seizing management again from Barcelona as he took off the ineffective false 9 Marco Asensio and introduced on Bradley Barcola. The transfer freed up Dembele to lash in his beautiful equaliser, earlier than Vitinha gave PSG the lead simply two minutes later.

Xavi then replied together with his personal adjustment, taking off Lamine Yamal and bringing on Pedri to assist regular Barcelona in midfield. The change produced an immediate influence – as the previous Kopa Trophy winner arrange Raphinha’s equaliser with a beautiful chip over the PSG defence.

Then got here one other twist! Barcelona had been inflicting PSG issues all evening with their inswinging corners, so the introduction of a tall centre-back in Andreas Christensen was Xavi’s subsequent transfer, and the defender quickly headed Barcelona again into the lead.

Barcelona’s teenage stars shine on the massive stage

What an evening this was Barcelona’s legendary academy, La Masia, as historical past was made on the Parc des Princes. Lamine Yamal, at 16, turned the youngest participant to start out a Champions League quarter-final. Pau Cubarsi, at 17, turned the second-youngest, as he lined up on the coronary heart of the defence.

Yamal has been a breakout star this season, already enjoying a starring function for the Spanish nationwide crew, so it was Cubarsi who arguably made the most important impression with a remarkably assured and assured show at centre-back. Cubarsi was composed on the ball and infrequently put a foot flawed. Barcelona have one other gem on their fingers.

Pedri additionally deserves a point out. The 21-year-old has had a horrible time with accidents since he broke by way of to the primary crew as a teen two years in the past, so his help for Raphinha’s equaliser was a beautiful reminder of his personal expertise.

Haller’s objective provides Dortmund hope towards Atletico

Borussia Dortmund created their very own issues at Atletico Madrid as defensive errors gave the German aspect a mountain to climb, however Sebastian Haller’s late objective supplied a lifeline on the Wanda Metropolitano.

Dortmund gifted Rodrigo de Paul an opener after 4 simply minutes in Madrid, earlier than one other mix-up on the again allowed Antoine Griezmann to arrange Samuel Lino so as to add a second shortly after the half-hour mark.

Haller’s instinctive flip and end units up an intriguing return leg in Dortmund subsequent week – altering the momentum of the tie as Julian Model went near grabbing an equaliser in stoppage time with a header that crashed off the crossbar.