Champions League: Angel di Maria's brilliant brace guides PSG to stunning 4-0 win over Barcelona
Barcelona was absolutely taken aback, the defeat their largest EU humiliation considering the fact that losing 7-0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals in 2013.
Angel Di Maria scored a great brace on his birthday as Paris Saint-Germain sensationally destroyed Barcelona four-0 at the Parc des Princes of their Champions League closing 16 first leg on Tuesday.
Di Maria, the previous real Madrid celebrity, opened the scoring within the 18th minute and curled in another 10 minutes into the second 1/2 to have fun his twenty-ninth birthday in style.
January signing Julian Draxler additionally netted in between even as Edinson Cavani marked his 30th birthday by using adding his call to the scoresheet inside the 71st minute within the French capital.
Barcelona had been absolutely bowled over, the defeat their largest ECU humiliation considering dropping 7-0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals in 2013.
they may be now observing a primary go out from the opposition earlier than the sector-finals in a decade until they are able to pull off a marvellous escape in the 2nd leg at the Camp Nou next month.
This becomes PSG`s night time, though, and Unai Emery`s aspect will simply move directly to comfortable a 5th successive appearance inside the region-finals.
"To win 4-0 in opposition to Barcelona on my birthday is wonderful, we're so happy. It changed into the correct fit and we are delighted with the end result," Di Maria instructed beIN sports activities.
"To undergo we can want to produce every other performance like this. We scored 4 dreams however they're capable of doing the same element."
PSG had twice been eliminated from the Champions League at the palms of Barcelona in the preceding 4 seasons, and the Catalans additionally had a fearsome document in video games towards aspects coached by Emery, losing just considered one of 23 before this.
but Luis Enrique`s team, for all of the brilliance of Lionel Messi, have recently looked extra fragile than in a long term and the French champions confirmed no worry.
They had been without injured captain Thiago Silva and the suspended Thiago Motta, that means a start for Adrien Rabiot in midfield and a Champions League debut in defence for 21-yr-antique Presnell Kimpembe.
Draxler additionally made his European debut for the membership and the German became splendid as PSG pressed Barcelona high right from the off -- the home aspect had already worked Marc-Andre Ter Stegen within the Barca intention earlier than they got the opener.
The menacing Draxler become fouled just out of doors the location and Di Maria bent the ensuing unfastened-kick over the wall and in for his 0.33 goal within the Champions League this season. Crocked following an early foul by way of Rabiot, Neymar changed into off the field receiving treatment because the Parc des Princes crowd erupted.
He changed into able to preserve, however, the site visitors have been lacklustre, Luis Suarez starved of a carrier, Messi quiet and skipper Andres Iniesta struggling to manage.
One Neymar acceleration did lead to an Andre Gomes shot that turned into became at the back of by using Kevin Trapp, but otherwise the chances were at the other cease.
Ter Stegen saved from Draxler after a counterattack, but there has been not anything he ought to do because the German made it 2-0 5 mins from 1/2-time, exchanging passes with Marco Verratti and rifling a shot past the goalkeeper from the proper aspect of the location.
the expectation became that Barcelona would come out fighting after the restart but instead, they fell similarly behind within the 55th minute to a chunk of brilliance from Di Maria.
The move began with Trapp rolling a purpose-kick out to Rabiot on the threshold of his own field and the midfielder turning away underneath stress from Messi. It ended with Di Maria curling a left-foot shot excessive into the top-left corner of the net from the brink of the other place.
Di Maria then came off to a standing ovation, however, Paris had been not completed. Thomas Meunier surged ahead from right-back and installation Cavani, who thumped domestic his 34th aim of the season in all competitions.
A miserable night for Barcelona became compounded while Samuel Umtiti hit the put up overdue on.