PSG - Barcelona summary: score, goals and highlights | 2023/24 Champions League

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After a mad, topsy-turvy encounter in Paris, Barcelona are within touching distance of a first Champions League semi-final in five years.

Can they finish the job in Catalonia? We'll find out next week.

Thanks for reading! Bye!

When do PSG and Barça meet in the second leg?

We don't have long to wait.

After visiting Cádiz on Saturday 13 April, Barça host PSG in the return leg of their last-eight clash in six days' time, on Tuesday 16 April.

A reminder that the winner of this tie will face the winner of Atlético vs Dortmund.

UCL's goal-heaviest fixture

We've now enjoyed 49 goals in the 13 Champions League meetings between PSG and Barça.

As the Opta Analyst points out, that's the highest goal ratio of any fixture in the Europe's top club tournament.

"Xavi's best evening as Barça's manager"

"What a win in Paris," purrs LaLigaTV presenter Jamie Easton.

Goals galore in quarter-final openers

It's been a thrilling couple of days' Champions League action.

According to Opta, we've been treated to a joint-record goal glut across the four quarter-final first legs. 

Barça end PSG unbeaten run

As our friends at SofaScore point out, Barça have condemned PSG to their first defeat since November.

Luis Enrique's men had been on a 27-game unbeaten sequence.

All to play for in Germany after Atlético edge Dortmund

At the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid hold the advantage after the first leg tonight - but a late goal for Borussia Dortmund means the Germans are right back in that tie.

Sebastian Haller netted a crucial 80th-minute goal for Dortmund, after first-half strikes by Atlético's Rodrigo de Paul and Samuel Lino.

My colleague Joe Brennan was watching that game.

PSG need to make history to go through

Now there's a stat from Mister Chip: PSG have never won a European knockout tie after losing the first leg at home.

Six times, they've tried and failed to turn a tie around after defeat in Paris.

Raphinha's first Barça brace

That's Raphinha's first two-goal display for Barcelona, by the way.

PSG 2-3 Barcelona: full-time thoughts

Where to start?

Barcelona were excellent in the first half, and thoroughly deserved their half-time lead.

They then found themselves on the end of a PSG whirlwind; the hosts turned the scoreboard on its head in the space of just a couple of minutes after the break, and suddenly were threatening to run away with it.

But, one piece of magic by Pedri later, Barça were back on terms. And, with a quarter of an hour remaining, Christensen also delivered an instant off the bench, heading past a flatfooted DonnaruMMA to complete the Game's second turnaround.

Special mention also to Raphinha, who scored twice and really was excellent.

Peep peeep peeep! Barcelona come away from the Parc des Princes with a thrilling victory!

Now Mbappé shoots... but Araújo gets enough of a touch on it to deflect it just past Ter Stegen's right-hand post.

The striker received outside of the box and had too much time to turn and shoot, but Barça survive.

Roared on by an increasingly desperate-sounding home support, PSG push for an equaliser. 

Nuno Mendes tries to cross from the left, but his delivery is weak and Barça clear.

Back come the hosts. Vitinha plays it to Dembélé, who has peeled off into space outside of the box. He dinks a ball into the danger area, but it's too high and Ter Stegen collects.

We will have four minutes of time added on in Paris.

Christensen is booked for bringing Zaïre-Emery down - and the Dane will miss the second leg.

Moments later, Beraldo is booked for a foul on Fermín.

Dembélé has a decent-ish chance to make it 3-3, but he can't direct his shot goalwards.

Collecting a loose ball at the back of the box, he cuts onto his right and tries to curl the ball into Ter Stegen's far corner, but directs his strike well off target.

Both teams make substitutions.

For Barcelona, Gündogan is off for Fermín López. For PSG, Fabián makes way for Gonçalo Ramos.

PSG spend a good minute or so plopping the ball about in front of the Barça defence, before Dembélé shanks a pass out for a goal-kick.

There are timid penalty shouts when Vitinha tumbles to the floor, but the hosts are not getting a spot-kick for that.

Cubarsí is booked, for tugging Zaïre-Emery back.

Can Barça find a fourth? Cubarsí plays it to Joao Félix, who jinks forward towards the PSG box.

He can't get his shot away, though.

It isn't tremendous keeping from Donnarumma, it has to be said.

Just stands on his line and watches the corner sail onto Christensen's head, allowing the Dane to score right under his nose.

Double change for Barça: Raphinha and De Jong are off, with Christensen and Ferran on.

Dembélé hits the post!

Having scored one with his left, he almost adds a second with his right! Receiving on the left-hand side of the Barça box, he produces a low finish on the run - but it bounces back off the upright! It really looked like it was going to go in across Ter Stegen. 

Barça look dangerous on the counter too, though.

When PSG lose the ball inside the away team's half, Xavi's men work it forwards at pace to Raphinha, who's full of confidence.

He bursts towards the PSG box, but has to check back. Finally Joao Félix shoots from distance, but can't trouble Donnarumma.

Barça are about to bring Andreas Christensen on, it seems.

Barça look much happier with life, but they're still vulnerable to the quick PSG break.

Barcola scuttles forward and into the Blaugrana box, and is denied only by a very, very timely reception by Araújo.

Raphinha takes... but his strike is too close to Donnarumma.

Having failed to score in the Champions League until tonight, he's now on a hat-trick.

Barça were struggling to keep their heads above water until that goal. It's much more even now.

The visitors win a free-kick in shooting territory, with Raphinha standing over it.

That was Pedri's first involvement in a Barça attack since their 0-0 draw with Athletic over a month ago. What a player.

Vitinha is booked for a foul on Joao Félix.

Both teams make changes. Zaïre-Emery is on for PSG, with Kang-in Lee off.

For Barça, Lamine and Sergi Roberto are off for Pedri and João Félix.

PSG want a penalty when Kang-in Lee tumbles under Cancelo's challenge in the box, but he doesn't get one.

The corner is played short to Kang-in Lee, who drops a shoulder and whips a dipping ball across the box - but it's just overhit!

Barça are preparing to make a change, you will be unsurprised to hear. They were so good in the first half, but they've been utterly dominated in the second thus far.

Having just laid on a goal for Vitinha, Fabián now gets a chance to shoot himself. His effort, from 20 yards out, is blocked.

But back come PSG.

Mbappé darts towards the byline, before his cutback is deflected behind for a corner.

Barcola hits the bar!

Barça are rocking, and the hosts smell blood. Breaking at pace, PSG work it right to Barcola, who has acres of space to scamper forward and into the Barça box.

From just inside the area, he thumps an effort past Ter Stegen, but it rebounds off the woodwork!

Vitinha gets an early sight of goal in this second half, but blazes well over from about 25 yards out.

But then...

Luis Enrique has shuffled his pack at the break: Asensio has been withdrawn, with Barcola on in the Spaniard's stead.

Peeep! We're back underway at the Parc des Princes.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Atlético Madrid - Borussia Dortmund live online: score, stats & updates | Champions League

In Madrid, Atlético have taken early control of their tie with Borussia Dortmund.

Diego Simeone's men lead 2-0, thanks to first-half goals by Rodrigo de Paul and Samuel Lino.

Join Joe for that game.

Raphinha opens UCL scoring account

Here's another stat that passed me by: Raphinha's goal tonight is his first in the Champions League.

Ronaldinho in French capital

Ronaldinho, a former favourite at both PSG and Barcelona, is at the Parc des Princes tonight.

Lamine sets UCL record

While I was busy pointing out Pau Cubarsí's Champions League age record pre-match, I neglected to notice that Lamine Yamal has also made the same kind of history today.

Opta note that the 16-year-old is the youngest ever player to appear in a Champions League quarter-final match.

Peeep peeep peeep! Barcelona can be very pleased indeed with that first half.

PSG had more of the ball - although not by much in the end - but they spent much of that first 45 playing some very huff-and-puff football.

Barça grew and grew as the half progressed, and looked the team with the greater cutting edge. So it proved: they lead at the break.

And when Barça clear, they create another very decent opening!

Raphinha scampers down the left to the byline, before cutting it back to Lamine Yamal at the far post. 

With defenders quickly surrounding him, Lamine tries to curl a shot back across goal and into Donnarumma's far top corner, but gets no direction at all on his strike.

Lewandowski and Gündogan are decidedly cheesed off that he didn't try to pull it back.

We're into the first of two minutes of time added on.

PSG play it left to Nuno Mendes, who thumps a low cross into the middle. He can't find anyone in a blue shirt, though, and Barcelona clear.

Sergi Roberto clips the ball into Lewandowski, who is on the penalty spot with his back to goal. 

Lewandowski tries to chest it down, turn and shoot, but his effort is blocked. And, it seems, he was offside anyway.

PSG come forward in search of a quickfire leveller.

First, Dembélé's cut-back is to precisely no-one; moments later, Mbappé is caught offside as he sets off in pursuit of a through ball.

Oh, Joao. Selfish.

Barça have the tails firmly in the up position right now, and in the blink of an eye they get Cancelo charging at a backpedalling PSG defence, with men in space to his right.

Rather than square it, however, Cancelo goes for the shot from the left-hand side of the penalty box - and screws his effort well wide.

On the right of the box, Lewandowski throws his arms up in understandable frustration.

Barcelona have got better and better as this first half has progressed, and are well worth their goal.

Cubarsí zips a ball out from the back to Lewandowski, who buys himself a free-kick on the halfway line.

Barça have really grown into this game.

Sergi Roberto tugs Asensio back as he tries to break, and earns himself the most textbook of textbook yellow cards.

That booking means Roberto will miss the return leg in Barcelona.

Barça build it patiently, finally working it to Lewandowski, who has peeled off into space at the top of the box.

He tries to lift a pass into Raphinha's run towards the left-hand post, but he can't find the Brazilian.

PSG pin Barça back again - but when they lose it, the Catalans almost get Raphinha in with another long ball towards the winger.

A moment later, Donnarumma's ball out is very sloppy, allowing Lamine Yamal the chance to drive towards the byline. He does just that, but his ball into the middle is a little too long.

After a decent little spell for Barça, PSG respond with a stint in the visitors' half.

From the right, Mbappé cuts it back to Lee, whose shot is saved by Ter Stegen!

Mbappé is then chopped down in the box by Cancelo, but the striker was offside. So Barça have a free-kick, and will clear.

In Madrid, Atlético are beating Dortmund. Rodrigo de Paul gave Los Rojiblancos a very early lead at the Metropolitano.

You can follow that game with my colleague Joe Brennan.

Barcelona are enjoying a good couple of minutes, and Raphinha draws a good save from Donnarumma.

Receiving the ball in a central area, some 30 yards out from goal, the Brazilian gets it out of his feet and drills low towards Donnarumma's left-hand corner, but the PSG keeper gets down to palm it out!

At the other end, Lewandowski is so close to heading Barcelona into the lead!

With Donnarumma in no-man's land, the Pole gets his head to a left-wing corner, but can't manage a great connection.

Almost in slow motion, the ball loops towards the net, but Nuno Mendes is there just in time to hack it off the line!

That's bright play by Nuno Mendes, who darts into the Barcelona box from the left wing, squeezing in between Koundé and Lamine.

His path towards goal is eventually blocked, but he scuttled into the danger area a little too easily.

The TV cameras pan to France head coach Didier Deschamps in the stands.

“What a player he was, by the way,” purr our Spanish commentary team. Adam Hurrey would be proud.

Back come PSG. Mbappé scampers forward from the left, before slipping it out right to Dembélé.

Dembélé tries to cross from the right, but his delivery is deflected behind for a corner.

Kang-in Lee takes the corner, but sends his cross right into Ter Stegen's arms.

Raphinha is back on his feet. He's limping.

Raphinha remains down on the turf and in some pain. Not surprised: Beraldo had a good hack at his ankles.

Not Anthony Taylor's finest piece of officiating, that.

For the first time tonight, Barça get the opportunity to keep the ball in the PSG half for a sustained period.

That comes to an end when Beraldo chops Raphinha down - and somehow gets away with it.

PSG break, feeding it left to Mbappé. He cuts inside and tries to shoot from 25 yards out, but his strike is blocked.

Again PSG create a shooting chance from the right-hand corner of the Barça box, and again said shot is fired straight at Ter Stegen. It was Marco Asensio this time.

PSG are dominating possession, but it's Barcelona who have had the most promising attacking moment thus far.

Kang-in Lee controls on the right-hand corner of the Barça box, before dropping a shoulder and working himself a yard or two of shooting space.

He's got plenty of room to pick his spot, but he slaps a weak shot right down Ter Stegen's gullet.

Oh, wow. Raphinha was very, very nearly in past Donnarumma for a tap-in there.

Ter Stegen lifts a long pass forward to Lewandowski, who opts against heading it. Instead, he lets it run through towards PSG's box, with Raphinha and Donnarumma suddenly in a foot race for the ball.

It looks for a moment like Raphinha is going to get there first and take it round the PSG keeper, but Donnarumma just manages to nip in before the Brazilian!

There's PSG's first sight on goal. Mbappé receives on the left-hand side of the penalty box, before quickly getting a poked effort out of his feet. It's always heading a couple of yards past Ter Stegen's far post, though.

Again PSG feed it right to Dembélé, who once more takes on Cancelo. This time, however, the Barça full-back times his tackle much better. He gets a good foot in to take the ball off Dembélé's toes. Fine defending,

Lee's ball into the box is played in with plenty of venom, but Barcelona get it behind.

The corner is cleared, but PSG are back on the ball right away.

PSG start on the front foot, working it right to Dembélé on the touchline. He's fouled by Cancelo, and Kang-in Lee will whip a dead-ball into the box.

Peeeeep! We're underway in Paris.

Almost time to go!

It's pretty much time for action. Here's a final reminder of today's teams:

PSG:

Donnarumma, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Lucas, Mendes, Fabián, Vitinha, Kang-in Lee, Asensio, Dembélé, Mbappé.

Barcelona:

Ter Stegen, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Cancelo, De Jong, Roberto, Gündogan, Lamine, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

Teams out!

The players have made their way out onto the field in the French capital, and we've just been treated to the Champions League anthem. It's loud inside the Parc des Princes.

Who is on a booking at the Parc des Princes?

Incidentally, Barcelona have no fewer than seven players who are a booking away from a one-match ban. They are: Araújo, De Jong, Christensen, Lamine Yamal, Sergi Roberto, Ferran and Joao Félix.

For PSG, meanwhile, Skriniar, Ugarte, Lucas are one yellow card from a suspension.

BARCELONA

Who is Anthony Taylor, PSG-Barça Champions League referee?

Today's match referee will be Englishman Anthony Taylor, with his countryman David Coote serving as the VAR.

My colleague Paul Reidy has put together a short profile of Taylor.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

PSG - Barcelona: how to watch on TV, stream online | Champions League

If you're still wondering how you can watch today's game on TV or online, let me point you in the direction of our guide on where to tune in.

Opta fancy PSG for UCL trophy

Opta rate PSG as the second-likeliest team to win the whole competition. 

The Parisians’ 14.4% chance, according to Opta’s ‘supercomputer, is lower only than that given to defending champions Manchester City, who are rated as the overwhelming favourites at 28.3%

Barcelona are valued as fifth favourites, with 9% chance. 

Barça not fancied to get rare Paris win

In their six Champions League visits to the Parc des Princes, Barça have just the one win to their name - and the statisticians are not backing them to double their tally.

Opta's 'prediction supercomputer' gives Barça a 24.3% chance of winning first leg - less than half the probability of victory given to PSG, who are rated at 49.7% to take the spoils today.
 

When Barça pulled off the impossible job

Before that 5-2 aggregate win for PSG, the teams' previous meeting was THAT last-16 comeback by Barcelona.

I'm sure I don't need to remind, but nevertheless: Having lost 4-0 in Paris in the first leg, Barça scored three goals in the closing minutes of the return in Catalonia to win 6-1 on the night, and progress 6-5 on aggregate.

As I mentioned earlier, PSG boss Luis Enrique was the man in the Barça dugout on that famous night.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

How many goals has Kylian Mbappé scored against Barcelona? What is his record?

Here's more from my colleague Roddy Conson Mbappé's exploits against Barcelona (sorry, I've delivered a bit of spoiler on the headline...)

Kylian kills it at Camp Nou

That memorable PSG win in Catalonia included a hat-trick for PSG's star man, Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé's total of four career Champions League goals against Barcelona is bettered only by Thomas Muller (eight) and Andriy Shevchenko (seven), Opta notes.

When did PSG and Barça last meet in the UCL?

This is the fourth time in the space of a decade that PSG and Barcelona have been drawn together in the Champions League knockouts.

They last met in the 2020/21 last 16, in a tie that saw PSG progress after a thumping, 4-1 win in the second leg at the Camp Nou.

What is PSG and Barça's H2H record?

Today’s first leg will be the 13th Game that PSG and Barça have played in the Champions League.

As things stand, their head-to-head record is absolutely even stevens: four wins each, four draws, and four defeats each.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Luis Enrique vs Xavi: How many times have they met and who has won more?

If you'd like to read more about Luis Enrique and Xavi's shift from colleagues to rivals, let me point you in the direction of this piece by my colleague Andy Hall.

Xavi lauds "fantastic" Luis Enrique

We've just seen images of Xavi and Luis Enrique giving each other a hearty, backslap-heavy hug in the Parc des Princes tunnel. They were all smiles, and - ostensibly, at least - there seem to be no ill-feelings over the PSG boss's pre-match remarks.

Xavi has also just spoken to Movistar on Spanish TV, and called Luis Enrique a "fantastic guy". "I've got great vibes with him," the Barça head coach added.

What the coaches said: Xavi

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

PSG coach Luis Enrique: “My style of play undoubtedly represents Barcelona more than Xavi’s”

If you'd like to see Luis Enrique's pre-match comments in full, you might wish to peruse this write-up by my colleagues Sergi de Juan and Roddy Cons.

What the coaches said: Luis Enrique

PSG ring the changes for Barça clash

Luis Enrique makes, by my count, 10 changes to the team that drew with Clermont Foot in Ligue 1 at the weekend. Spaniard Marco Asensio is the only player who keeps his place in the XI.

With Achraf Hakimi suspended and Nordi Mukiele injured, it looks like Marquinhos is going to deputise at right-back.

In attack, Ousmane Dembélé starts against his former club.

Confirmed PSG line-up

Luis Enrique has now named his team. He has gone with: Donnarumma, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Lucas, Mendes, Fabián, Vitinha, Kang-in Lee, Asensio, Dembélé, Mbappé.

Cubarsí makes UCL history

By the way, soccer stats specialists Opta note that Barcelona's Pau Cubarsí will tonight become the youngest defender to start a Champions League quarter-final match, at the age of 17 years and 79 days.

PSG XI imminent

PSG are at the Parc des Princes, and looking very dapper indeed, but we're still waiting for their line-up to be confirmed.

De Jong back for Barça

Xavi makes two changes to the Barcelona team that began their LaLiga win over Las Palmas 10 days ago. Ronald Araújo and Frenkie de Jong are in, with Iñigo Martínez and Fermín López making way.

This is De Jong’s first Barça appearance since he suffered an ankle injury in early March.

Barcelona's confirmed line-up

Barcelona's starting XI is in! Xavi has opted for: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Cancelo, De Jong, Roberto, Gündogan, Lamine, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

What happened in yesterday's UCL first legs?

Today’s Champions League action certainly has a lot to live up to.

In the clash of the last two tournament winners, Real Madrid and Manchester City both had to come from behind - Los Blancos twice - as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu.

In North London, meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s former Spurs idol Harry Kane was on target against Arsenal, in a quarter-final opener that ended 2-2.

Ten goals in total, then; more of the same tonight, please.
 

Barcelona will be in yellow for tonight's Champions League first leg.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Could ISIS launch a terrorist attack during the Champions League quarter-finals?

If you'd like to know more about Islamic State's threat to this week's Champions League games, take a look at our full report.

Heightened security in Paris after Islamic State threat

Incidentally, the French authorities have stepped up security at the Parc des Princes, after Islamic State issued a threat against this week's four Champions League quarter-final first legs.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin says that police have "considerably strengthened" their security efforts around today's clash in the capital.

Sun shining in the French capital

It looks like a beautiful evening for some association football.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Atlético Madrid - Borussia Dortmund live online: score, stats & updates | Champions League

Incidentally, we also have live-text coverage of Atlético and Dortmund's quarter-final first leg, which also gets underway at 3pm ET today.

You can join my colleague Joe Brennan for all the build-up to that one, followed by minute-by-minute commentary.

Who will winners face in the UCL semi-finals?

Whichever team does finally manage to clinch a return to the Champions League semi-finals, they’ll come up against one of Atlético Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the last four.

On paper at least, they avoid the trickier prospect of the teams on the other side of the draw: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Well, until the final, at least.

PSG approaching 30 games unbeaten

Like Barcelona, PSG have also put together a lengthy sequence without defeat.

Indeed, Luis Enrique’s men haven’t lost in any of their last 27 games in all competitions, since going down 2-1 to AC Milan in a Champions League group-stage clash in November.

How did PSG reach the UCL quarter-finals?

PSG are facing LaLiga opposition for the second straight round, after knocking out Real Sociedad in the last 16

The French champions were 4-1 winners on aggregate, superstar striker Kylian Mbappé scoring three of the team’s goals in the tie.

PSG chasing first UCL semi in three years

And what of PSG? As is well documented, they're yet to get their hands on the European title under their petro-dollar-rich Qatari ownership.

Under Luis Enrique, the Parisians are bidding to return to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2021.

Barça on growing unbeaten run

That last-16 tie against Napoli was part of an 11-game unbeaten run that Barcelona are currently on - the 11 games they have played since Xavi announced his end-of-season departure from the Blaurgrana dugout.

Barça have won their last four matches in a row, and appear to be regaining the defensive solidity that saw them concede just 20 times in LaLiga last season. In their past six run-outs, the Catalans have let in just the one goal.

How did Barcelona reach the UCL quarter-finals?

Barcelona left themselves one step away from a return to the Champions League last four by ousting Napoli in the last 16 last month.

The Spanish champions beat the Italian champions 4-2 on aggregate - the second time they have knocked Napoli out of Europe since Xavi took charge at the Camp Nou in 2021.

Fermín Lopez, Joao Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski got the goals in the second leg, as Barça secured a decisive 3-1 win over the Partenopei.

Can Barça return to UCL semis after five-year absence?

Since winning their fifth European title under Mr Martínez (NB: his surname isn't Enrique, folks), Barcelona's Champions League fortunes have hit something of a downturn.

Indeed, this quarter-final tie offers Barça the chance to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 2019.

And the sooner they can banish the memories of that Anfield meltdown, the better.

Barça come up against UCL-winning former boss

And, for those among you who are partial to the sounding of a narrative klaxon, Barcelona are to come up against Luis Enrique - their legendary former player and coach, the man who led the Blaugrana to their most recent Champions League trophy triumph.

Of course, Luis Enrique was also the man in charge at Barça when the Catalans pulled off THAT comeback against PSG in 2017.

PSG vs Barcelona: welcome!

Well, after yesterday's goal bonanza, let's hope Tuesday wasn't hoarding all the excitement.

One suspects not: in Paris in a couple of hours' time, PSG host Barcelona in the first leg of a Champions League match-up that has, memorably, delivered plenty of goals in the past.

Kick-off in the French capital is at 3pm ET/12 noon PT.