Barcelona’s Raphinha celebrates scoring his facet’s second aim through the Champions League quarterfinal first leg between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona on the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on April 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
With his group trailing 2-1 and Paris Saint-Germain pushing laborious for an additional aim, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández’s substitutions paid off instantly.
Midfielder Pedri arrange the equalizer for Raphinha inside a minute of approaching at Parc des Princes stadium.
Then, two minutes after his introduction, central defender Andreas Christensen headed house from a nook to present Barcelona a 3-2 win in the primary leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.
“Pedri came on and helped us a lot. I’m very proud of the team. Christensen also came on and helped,” Xavi mentioned. “Tactically we did really well.”
Raphinha was the choose of Barcelona’s gamers on the night time, and the Brazil ahead had scored twice earlier than Christensen’s 77th-minute aim.
The imposing Christensen headed Ilkay Gündogan’s nook from the left previous Gianluigi Donnarumma from shut vary because the PSG goalkeeper stood rooted to his line as a substitute of difficult for the ball.
After that aim, PSG coach Luis Enrique’s head dropped.
“We made things a bit difficult for ourselves. We managed to turn things around in the second half and could have had a third (goal),” Enrique mentioned. “Everything’s still open for us and we will go there with ambition.”
Raphinha’s vigorous efficiency and ending contrasted with a lackluster efficiency from Kylian Mbappé, who has scored a membership file 251 targets for PSG however didn’t hit the goal this time or make lots of his trademark electrical runs from deep.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the thirty seventh and Ousmane Dembélé equalized in the forty eighth in opposition to his former membership. Three minutes later, midfielder Vitinha put PSG forward from Fabián Ruiz’s go in a pulsating match the place Dembélé hit the left put up moments earlier than Christensen’s aim.
Raphinha curled Barcelona forward after Donnarumma struggled with Lamine Yamal’s slick right-wing cross, which the 16-year-old Spain winger exquisitely flicked with the surface of his left foot.
Sloppy defending from each side adopted.
Mbappé’s left-wing cross was hacked clear by Ronald Araújo and fell to Dembélé, who lower inside Frenkie de Jong and slammed the ball previous goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
Vitinha was afforded an excessive amount of house from Fabián Ruiz’s go, and slid a shot below his physique.
Raphinha learn substitute Pedri’s fantastically weighted lengthy go and clipped a volley previous Donnarumma, making it 2-2 in the 62nd forward of Christensen’s winner. Raphinha turned and stood nonetheless, arms crossed, defying the PSG crowd jeering him.
A fan ran onto the sphere seconds after the ultimate whistle however was rapidly caught by stewards.
The return leg is subsequent Tuesday in Spain.
In the opposite quarterfinal Wednesday, Atlético Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at house.
The rivalry between PSG and Barcelona has intensified in latest years, with Barcelona once more in the driving force’s seat.
PSG knocked Barcelona out in the spherical of 16 in 2021, however endured quarterfinal exits in 2013 and 2015. Then, in March 2017, Enrique’s Barca routed PSG 6-1 in the return leg of their last-16 match to make Champions League comeback historical past after shedding 4-0.
PSG doesn’t want a comeback of that magnitude however should enhance.
“We pressed very high up the field and they tried to break our lines to find (striker Robert) Lewandowski. They did it very well and it caused us problems,” PSG captain Marquinhos mentioned. “It’s true that the small details make the difference. Conceding a goal from a corner, and allowing a second goal with the ball going in behind us. It’s something we can’t afford to do next week.”
Mbappé might have to play much better than he did in Wednesday’s recreation, which went forward with a strengthened safety presence an alleged Islamic State terror risk in opposition to Champions League matches this week. Some armed police have been stationed across the stadium however there have been no incidents.
Achraf Hakimi’s suspension compelled Enrique right into a reshuffle and he positioned Marquinhos at proper again. Surprisingly, midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery was on the bench.
PSG made a vivid begin earlier than the guests took management.
Lewandowski’s header from Gündogan’s cross was cleared off the road by Nuno Gomes and, moments later, Raphinha’s low drive drew a save from Donnarumma.
Donnarumma was at fault for the opening aim when he fisted Lamina’s cross down the center of the penalty space and was then stranded when Raphinha shot first time.
