And with that, I’ll say farewell. I need a rest after that topsy-turvy 90. What a position the competition finds itself in after all those first legs; all eight teams are still right in it, with two draws and just a goal to separate the two ties from tonight. It’s all rather exciting. Goodbye.
Xavi has a word with TNT and I’ll sum it up for you – he’s pretty chuffed with his boys, including his young guns, Yamal and Cubarsí. “I’m very happy because it’s a new Barça, but we are in a good way.”
Luis Enrique is still upbeat despite the loss: “It’s too soon, I didn’t have time to reflect. It was a pity. Second half started the best way for us … suddenly we suffered a second goal. At the end it’s a result that for us it’s a pity.”
Barney Ronay’s on-the-whistle report from Paris is here.
Just seen Xavi’s celebration after Barcelona’s first goal. He was beyond ecstatic, bouncing about like he was in a mosh pit. Cor, wouldn’t he love to sign off as manager of Barcelona with a Champions League win.
“Glad to see the scoring picked up a bit,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “These QFs are turning into goal fests!” Yes, Big Cup is well and truly alive.
Crucially, Barcelona kept Kylian Mbappé quiet. He wasn’t given a great deal of space to run into during that second half, and every time he cut in from the left he seemed to meet a wall of yellow.
A terrific result for the visitors, showing character after PSG came out at half-time with plenty of verve to make it 2-1. Xavi must take credit for his use of subs; Pedri emerged to play a wonderful ball for Raphinha’s second, and Christensen headed in the winner shortly after he came on.
FULL-TIME: PSG 2-3 Barcelona
Ferran Torres’ cross sails over everyone. PSG’s break is quickly interrupted as Barcelona keep hold of the ball. And then comes the whistle. Barcelona leave Paris all smiles.
Updated
90+3 min: Mbappé’s shot from outside the box is deflected out for a corner … Dembélé’s ball in is safely caught by Ter Stegen.
Updated
90+2 min: PSG work it around before Dembélé, once again, overhits his lofted ball into the box.
90 min: Barcola’s pull-back from the byline is intercepted before the ball eventually works its way back to Mbappé, with his cross blocked. Four minutes are added on.
89 min: Beraldo and Fermín also go in the book as the legs begin to tire.
88 min: Christensen gets a yellow after bringing down Zaïre-Emery.
87 min: Dembélé’s shot inside the box is awry, but nearly turns into a cross for Mbappé to head in; the Superman dive isn’t enough to get a touch on it, though.
Updated
85 min: Gonçalo Ramos is on for PSG while Fermín replaces Gündogan for Barcelona.
84 min: PSG work it around before Dembélé’s attempt to beat Barcelona’s backline – a chipped ball into the box – goes out for a goalkick.
83 min: Mbappé sets up Ruiz for a shot from the D, but an excellent block comes in to deny the hosts.
82 min: Hernández tries to pummel his way down the right for PSG as Cubarsí holds back Barcola to get a yellow card.
80 min: Raphinha and De Jong are the men who went off for Barcelona by the way; the former was brilliant, nabbing a brace.
The corner came in for Barcelona, Donnarumma was stuck on his line for PSG, and Andreas Christensen, somehow, had a free header from close range. He wasn’t going to mess it up. A Barcelona sub makes an instant impact – once again.
Updated
GOAL! PSG 2-3 Barcelona (Christensen 77)
Ferran Torres is on for Barcelona, along with Christensen … and the latter scores!
75 min: Dembélé hits the post! Vitinha slid the ball into the box and the forward opened up his body to strike with his right foot past Ter Stegen … but not into the net.
74 min: Pedri plays Gündogan, who slides in the ball to Raphinha for chase on to … the play ends with João Félix trying his luck from range.
72 min: Zaïre-Emery plays a fine ball down the right for Barcola to chase, but the winger is offside.
Updated
71 min: Barcola is nearly through on goal, but Araújo is lightning quick, sliding to get in the way of the shot.
70 min: 26 metres out, and Raphina’s low strike is kept out comfortably by Donnarumma.
69 min: Lewandowski wins a free-kick in an appetising position: centre-right, shooting range, and a chance for Raphina to get a hat-trick.
67 min: The game takes another breather before Mbappé launches a mazy run inside from the left, finding Barcola, who goes down. But the game goes on.
66 min: João Félix fires in a cross from the left but PSG break away themselves.
Pedri picks up the ball in midfield, nails a staggering lofted ball into the box, and Raphinha, making an excellent run forward, pulls off a brilliant volley past Donnarumma to make things level. This game is getting silly!
Updated
GOAL! PSG 2-2 Barcelona (Raphinha 62)
Pedri makes an instant impact!
61 min: Lee is off for PSG, with Zaïre-Emery on for PSG. João Félix comes on for Yamal. Pedri is also on for Barcelona.
59 min: PSG play knockabout as the game takes a bit of a breather.
Kári Tulinius writes: “Luis Enrique sometimes gets things spectacularly wrong, the 4-2-4 against Newcastle springs to mind, but here he recognized that his team were too predictable in attack and added the chaotic Barcola upfront at halftime, and the Barcelona defense is really unsettled now.”
58 min: Mbappé wins a corner; he’s been remarkably quiet despite PSG’s comeback. That only suggests further misery for Barcelona. Lee sends a cross into the Barcelona box but beats everyone.
57 min: Ruiz has a shot blocked; the PSG attackers are queueing up for them at the moment.
55 min: Barcola strikes the bar! The sub has acres of space on the right as PSG counter and his shot is tipped onto the bar and out for a corner by Ter Stegen.
52 min: Barcelona attack and Lewandowski has a free header … that he doesn’t get the desired contact with.
There’s some neat buildup out on the right-hand side for PSG before Ruiz slides in a reverse ball inside the box for Vitinha to sprint onto, and his low finish is immaculate. PSG have transformed this game in just five second-half minutes.
Updated
GOAL! PSG 2-1 Barcelona (Vitinha 50)
What did they do at half-time?
Mbappé’s cutback from the byline is blocked inside the box and finds Dembélé, who twists and turns and thunders a rocket past Ter Stegen.
Updated
GOAL! PSG 1-1 Barcelona (Dembélé 48)
What a hit, my son!
Updated
47 min: Vitinha breaks free through the middle for PSG and shoots from outside the box … over the bar.
46 min: And we’re back. Asensio is off for PSG, with Bradley Barcola on.
I haven’t really given Raphinha enough credit for his finish, which required him to regain his balance before launching his perfectly placed strike.
Some correspondence to catch up on, with Matt Burtz enjoying the overall aesthetic of this game.
“I have little to say about the game itself, I just wanted to note that the contrasting kits are sublime. A team clad in all yellow is always a pleasant sight, and PSG’s navy blue is the perfect counterpart. Even Anthony Taylor’s teal is pleasing to the eye. Tres chic!”
HALF-TIME: PSG 0-1 Barcelona
Barcelona have kept Kylian quiet and nabbed a goal, too. Xavi will, surely, be a happy man at the break.
45+1 min: PSG work it around but lack an incisive pass. That is until Mendes fizzes through a terrific low cross from the left. But it’s diverted away and Barcelona launch a threatening break … which ends with Yamal shooting high and wide.
45 min: Two minutes are added on.
44 min: Araújo heads away a cross from Lee which was trying to find Mbappé. That centre-back pairing for Barcelona is looking rock-solid at the moment.
Updated
43 min: Barcelona counter through Yamal on the right but he’s met with a fierce challenge from Lucas Beraldo.
42 min: Dembélé slides a pass into the box for Mbappé, but he’s held up by Cubarsí.
40 min: Yamal, the confident young pup, cuts in from the right and lofts a ball into the box, hoping to unlock Lewandowski. Doesn’t get it right, but he’s causing a bit of trouble.
It’s a lovely low ball into the box from the right from Yamal, which Lewandowski tries to get on the end of. Donnarumma gets to it, but only tips it towards Raphinha, who takes a moment, but finds the net. Barcelona have grown into the game and now have their goal.
Updated
GOAL! PSG 0-1 Barcelona (Raphinha 37)
Mix-up in the box and Raphinha takes advantage!
34 min: The ball is played low by Gündogan for Raphinha to strike from the edge of the box but it’s blocked and PSG drive forward before Asensio is taken down in the circle. Roberto gets a yellow for the foul.
33 min: Yamal has room on the right but decides against taking on Mendes as Barcelona stay patient with their passing. There’s a bit of pinball in the air between Hernández and Marquinhos, leading to a corner for Barcelona.
Updated
31 min: Mbappé’s attempted one-two with Ruiz inside the box is dealt with by Barcelona, who break forward.
29 min: VAR has a look at a Cancelo challenge on Mbappé but the Barcelona defender is all good.
28 min: PSG patiently build out in midfield before Dembélé turns on his engines, breaking into the box before his pull-back to Mbappé is intercepted. Lee has a shot that Ter Stegen is firmly behind.
26 min: Donnarumma has looked a bit iffy so far, so Barcelona could do with pumping that ball into the box (yes, not really their brand but why not?). Cancelo has a shot from range but doesn’t threaten the Italian goalkeeper.
24 min: Barcelona are beginning to look lively. Mbappé breaks forward but is pulled back for fouling Koundé. Free-kick to the visitors.
23 min: Raphinha gets the ball in a central position outside the box and shifts onto his left foot for a low shot that Donnarumma tips around for a corner. Decent effort.
20 min: Raphinha wins Barcelona a corner … and the header is cleared off the line! Donnarumma failed to collect after coming out and the ball looped up off Lewandowski’s head … Mendes was the man who saved the keeper from embarrassment, getting back to stop Barcelona from leading.
19 min: Mendes nutmegs Koundé to break free inside the Barcelona box but his shot is blocked by a finely timed challenge from Araújo.
18 min: Vitinha intercepts by the halfway line and drives forward but no one can get a shot away after Mbappé launches a pass into the middle.
16 min: Ter Stegen collects the ball comfortably but Barcelona aren’t looking all that secure.
Updated
15 min: Barcelona are struggling to keep a hold of the ball at the moment. Mbappé launches one of his electric runs on the left and a Dembélé ball is put out for a corner.
14 min: Raphinha is back on his feet and the show goes on.
12 min: PSG break and let Mbappé loose … he’s doubled-up on, and his shot on the edge of the box is blocked by one of his markers. Raphinha went down from a challenge that led to PSG’s counter … and he’s in quite a bit of pain.
10 min: The corner doesn’t amount to much, but PSG are looking decent – Asensio tries his luck with a curling left-footed strike – but it’s straight at Ter Stegen.
9 min: Marquinhos ventures down the right, playing the ball to Dembélé, who could’ve played a cross earlier to Mbappé … but he does at least win a corner.
5 min: Mbappé pokes a shot through a stream of yellow shirts inside the box but is wide. Barcelona then attack at the other end with a long ball that Donnarumma sprints out for, doesn’t get proper contact on, but does enough to halt the danger.
“I can’t believe how low-scoring this Champions League quarter-final has been so far!” writes Justin Kavanagh, spoiled by last night.
Updated
4 min: Dembélé has space out on the right but is met by a fine Cancelo tackle when trying to skip his way into the box.
3 min: Barcelona clear the corner but can’t launch a proper break through Raphinha as PSG regain control.
2 min: The ball is flicked on inside the box before Cubarsí heads out for a PSG corner …
1 min: Mendes gets down the left-hand side before playing the ball to Mbappé who switches the ball across field. Dembélé wins a free-kick for PSG.
Peep!
Barcelona are decked in yellow; PSG in their standard dark blue. The home side kick things off.
Updated
Not long to go now. They’ve sung the Champo tune and done the handshakes. Get your snacks sorted.
The boys are back. Luis Enrique and Xavi embrace, both having worked together to deliver Barcelona Champions League glory in 2015. It remains the last time the club won the competition.
This is great.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 10, 2024
Luis Enrique and Xavi reconnect in the Parc des Princes.#PSGFCB | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Dm0c1DHfN6
Guess who’s here? Yes, this is also the Ronaldinho derby, with the former Brazil trickster having had stints at both clubs. He’s obviously more known for his time in Spain but was playing his club football in France when he won the World Cup in 2002. His one trophy at PSG? The Intertoto Cup.
If you fancy a quick catch-up on what happened last night in the Champions League, get your ears around this.
Born a year after Barcelona’s Champions League final victory over Arsenal in Paris. Mad.
16 - FCBarcelona´s @Lamine27Yamal 🇪🇸 is the youngest player to appear in a quarter-final #ChampionsLeague game (16y and 272d), surpassing the previous record of Rayan Cherki in 2020 with Lyon (17y and 2d in the semi-finals vs. Bayern). Nerve. pic.twitter.com/lmUBxGAeUI
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 10, 2024
Here’s the full set-up for both sides.
PSG: Donnarumma, Marquinhos, Hernández, Lucas Beraldo, Mendes, Lee, Vitinha, Ruiz, Dembélé, Asensio, K. Mbappé
Subs: Navas, Ugarte, Ramos, Danilo, Kolo Muani, Soler, Barcola, Zaïre-Emery, Skriniar, Mayulu, Zague, Tenas
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Cancelo, Roberto, De Jong, Gündogan, Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Subs: Martínez, Torres, Pedri, Peña, Félix, Christensen, López, Alonso, Romeu, Roque, Astralaga, Fort
The teams
The starting XI 🆚 FC Barcelona 👊🏻#PSGFCB I @EASPORTSFC
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 10, 2024
pic.twitter.com/daWbBgJ8GD
🚨 BARÇA XI 🚨#PSGBarça | #UCL pic.twitter.com/6eByTugSKQ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 10, 2024
Here’s the aforementioned madness:
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to coverage of Barcelona’s trip to Paris. Yes, it’s another battle between the two sides who had that unforgettable tie seven years ago – you know the one: Barça got done 4-0 away from home and then, somehow, turned it around with a staggering Neymar-inspired 6-1 win at Camp Nou. Not long after that, PSG decided to splurge an obscene amount of money on the Brazilian forward.
The two sides have met since in the Champions League, with PSG winning their last-16 tie three years ago 5-2, Kylian Mbappé scoring a hat-trick in the first leg. As ever, he’s the man to watch, this his final go at winning the trophy for PSG before he sets off in the summer.
I’ll be here to see you through the action. Send me your thoughts, queries, predictions, concerns, dreams, song requests, whatever feels right to you. Kick-off’s at 8pm BST.
