Barcelona bow to PSG, crash out of Champions League

FC Barcelona visited Paris St Germain with the hopes of turning around their first leg 4-1 home loss with a spectacular result in the second leg. It was however not to be as the French champions held them to a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes, ensuring that the tie finished 5-2 on aggregate.

Barcelona started the game in a very positive manner, creating chance after chance, but were made to the their profligacy in from of goal when PSG took the lead after 30 minutes through French poster boy, Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot. It was Mbappe’s 25th career Champions League goal. Their lead did not last long as Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi scored an absolute scorcher from 30 yards out to draw his side level in the game. It was his first goal from open play in this season’s Champions League. With only few seconds left in the half, Barcelona were awarded a penalty which Messi took. It was saved by PSG keeper, Keylor Navas to keep the scoreline at 1-1. Barcelona kept on creating chance after chance, but could not find a way past an inspired Navas in the PSG goal who made 9 saves in the game as the home side sent Barcelona packing from this season’s Champions League.

The result of the game means that for the first time in 16 years, both of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Messi’s goal was the 120th of his Champions League career in 149 appearances, leaving him 12 behind record scorer Ronaldo, who has 132.