Trailing from the 12th minute at Camp Nou, Paris SG overthrew FC Barcelona (4-1) after the expulsion of Blaugrana central defender Araujo and thanks to a double from Kylian Mbappé. PSG will play its semi-final against Dortmund, whom it had already encountered in the group stage
Published on: 04/16/2024 – 11:00 p.m. Modified on: 04/16/2024 – 11:10 p.m.
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Paris-SG will play its fourth semi-final in Champions League history after 1995, 2020, and 2021, but it has come a long way. Beaten (2-3) in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, the French club was already trailing on the Barcelona pitch from the 12th minute. At this moment in the match, few Parisian supporters would have dared to bet on an exploit from their players who had to score at least two goals to hope to push the Spaniards into overtime. But the slim hope turned into an incredible opportunity after the expulsion of Barcelona central defender Ronald Araujo.
At the half-hour mark, while Xavi’s men had control of the match, the Uruguayan defender was sent off after committing a foul on Barcola in the position of last defender. The Blaugrana, who led from the 12th minute on a goal from Raphinha, scorer of a double in the first leg, were going to have to hold out for more than an hour against Mbappé and his team. And when Ousmane Dembélé equalized after receiving a cross from the untenable Bradley Barcola (40th), the pressure changed sides.
More determined against a tense FC Barcelona, PSG returned from the locker room with better intentions and decided to accelerate. Vitinha confirmed his team’s domination by giving the advantage with a shot at the edge of the area before Kylian Mbappé gave Paris the break by converting a penalty caused by Ousmane Dembélé (61st).
Paris now has the upper hand, Barça is cracking at the image of its coach Xavi who is expelled. The Parisians hold the match, but are not safe with the revolt of the Blaugrana who give everything and create opportunities that make the Parisian fans tremble. But with a rediscovered and intractable Marquinhos, Paris held on until the end and ended up punishing their opponent with a counter from Kylian Mbappé (90th).
PSG will meet Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final in two weeks. The German club, beaten in the first leg at Atlético Madrid (1-2), also overthrew its opponent by winning 4-2 at home. PSG and Dortmund shared the same group this season in the Champions League. The Parisians beat the Germans in the first leg (2-0) before taking a point in the return leg. Enough to make fans optimistic who can still dream a little bigger.
Marcel Sabitzer scored the winning goal for Dortmund against Atletico Madrid. AP – Martin Meissner
