As expected, fans had a thrilling night with 8 goals in the first leg of the 2023-2024 Champions League quarter-finals. The match between Paris St Germain and Barcelona contributed 5 of them.
Barcelona came to Paris with some doubts from experts when they only won 1 of their 6 away matches at the Prince's Park. Most recently, they lost 0-4 in 2017.
Many people imagined the Spanish representative to face great pressure when playing with young player Pau Curbasi, 17, in the center-back position, as well as Lamine Yamal, 16, in the role of right winger. However, that did not happen.
The ball possession rate in the first half was very small - 51%-49% leaning towards the home team, but Barca was the team that had more shots. In the first 20 minutes, the Catalan team was close to scoring.
First, Nuno Mendes saved PSG right on the goal line, preventing Robert Lewandowski from scoring from the header. Then there was Raphinha's shot blocked by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The former Leeds United player was also the one who opened the scoring in the 37th minute. It was not the first time in the match that Barca launched a quick attack.
Yamal - the youngest player ever to participate in the Champions League quarter-finals - crossed the ball from the right wing, Donnarumma rushed out to block but was not strong enough, the ball reached Raphinha's feet and the Brazilian player comfortably put the ball into the net.
Meanwhile, for PSG, in addition to the promising opening 10 minutes, they had a poor performance. The most dangerous factor is Kylian Mbappe, who was completely silent against Cubarsi.
Entering the break between the two rounds with the lead, the home team suddenly reversed the game early in the second half.
First, Ousmane Dembele took advantage of Ronald Araujo's poor clearance to put Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 48th minute. 3 minutes later, Fabian Ruiz skillfully passed the ball through Vitinha, who shot into the far corner from close range, helping PSG lead 2-1.
Continuing the aggression, Bradley Barcola - came on to replace Marco Asensio at the beginning of the second half, shaking the crossbar as PSG continued to attack.
However, PSG's lead did not last long. In the 61st minute, almost immediately after being put on the field, Pedri passed the ball beautifully to Raphinha to score with a delicate finish from outside the penalty area.
The home team's luck continued when Dembele had a shot that hit the post, before the away team had the final advantage.
Andreas Christensen, also came on in the second half and only took 2 minutes on the pitch - minute 77, scoring when receiving a corner kick from İlkay Gundogan, headed into Donnarumma's net, setting the score at 3-2.
The two teams will meet again in Spain next week with the expectation of an exciting return match. Coach Luis Enrique will be hoping for another comeback like in 2017, but this time for PSG.
Raphinha scored his first double for Barcelona in 80 matches in all competitions. He is also the first Barca player to score twice in a Champions League knockout match since Lionel Messi in the semi-final against Liverpool in May 2019.
