Paris Saint-Germain reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League thanks to a furious comeback. The French champions, who suffered a 2-3 home defeat against FC Barcelona in the quarter-final first leg, won the second leg at the Catalans 4-1 on Tuesday evening thanks to two goals from superstar Kylian Mbappe and rose with the aggregate score of 6-4 on. The opponent in the semifinals is Borussia Dortmund.
16.04.2024 23.30
Online since yesterday, 11:30 p.m
In Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium, it initially looked like the home team would advance – Raphinha made it 1-0 for Barca (12th) after exemplary preparatory work from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal.
However, Barca central defender Ronald Araujo was shown a red card for stealing a goal in the 29th minute after a challenge with Bradley Barcola, and the game began to tip towards PSG.
Ex-Barca player Dembele initiates a turnaround
Ex-Barcelona professional Ousmane Dembele equalized from close range in the 40th minute, and Vitinha put the French in the lead in the 54th minute after a corner with a remarkable long-range shot. In the 56th minute, Barcelona’s Ilkay Gündogan hit the bar, and his coach Xavi Hernandez was shown a red card a little later for criticizing the Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs too much.
AP/Emilio Morenatti Referee Istvan Kovacs showed the red card twice against Barcelona
Mbappe made the decision with a penalty after an unnecessary attack by Joao Cancelo on Dembele (61′) and with a shot (89′). This means that the striker can still hope for an international title at the end of his seven-year era in the PSG jersey. The 2018 World Cup winner is expected to move to Real Madrid in the summer.
PSG is in the semi-finals of the premier class for the first time in three years and can continue to dream of the first CL title in the club’s history. As in the group phase, the opponent in the semi-finals is Dortmund. The French are looking forward to their first final since 2020, when they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. For Barca, however, what is probably their last chance for the title this season is gone.
Champions League, quarter-final second leg
Tuesday:
FC Barcelona – Paris Saint-Germain 1:4 (1:1)
Barcelona, Estadi Olimpic, 50.309 Zuschauer, SR Kovacs (ROU)
Torfolge:
1:0 Raphinha (12.)
1:1 Dembele (40.)
1:2 Vitinha (54.)
1:3 Mbappe (61st/penalty)
1:4 Mbappe (89.)
Rote Karten: Araujo (29./Barcelona), Xavi (56./Barca-Trainer)
First leg 3:2 – PSG with the overall score of 6:4 in the semifinals
