UCL Match Review PSG V/S Barcelona [11/04/2024]

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have faced each other 13 times in the UEFA Champions League so far.

 

HEAD TO HEAD STATS-

 

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN	Total matches-13	BARCELONA
4	WINS	5
5	LOSES	4
4	DRAWS	4
23	GOALS	26
0 TITLES	COMPETITION RECORD	5 TITLES

 

Both the teams share a great rivalry having the famous la Remontada in the 2016/17 Round of 16 with Barcelona scoring 6 goals to go on winning on an aggregate score of 6-5.

 

The match promised high intensity and goals.

1st HALF

 

The opening saw PSG dominate Barcelona’s defence, in an attempt to get an early advantage at home having a few shots on target. But in goal was Marc-André ter Stegen who was calm in the goal and handled the situation well.

 

Not until Barcelona got back to pressing, and reaching PSG’s half but Donnarumma cleared the goal.

 

PSG had a strong start and was clearly visible through the stats from 15 minutes after the whistle.

  

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN		BARCELONA
6/2	SHOTS/ON TARGET	0/0
6	TOUCHES IN THE OPP BOX	1
59.40%	POSSESSION	40.60%

 

 

Both the teams continued their quest for the win.

 

There was a VAR check but Mbappe was offside and the match continued.

 

37th minute and Goal!!!!!

Barcelona took the lead far away from home giving the visitors a reason for celebration.

 

Barcelona took control over themselves, dominating PSG.

 

HALF TIME SCORE: Barcelona 1- 0 PSG

 

HALF TIME STATS-

  

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN		BARCELONA
8/3	SHOTS/ON TARGET	10/3
21	TOUCHES IN OPP BOX	15
52.70	POSSESSION	47.30
0	GOALS	1

 

 

2nd HALF-

46th minute and PSG made a substitution as Barcola was bought in replacing M. Asensio.

 

PSG tried to equalise and dominate just as they did at the beginning of the first half.

 

And GOAL!!!!!!!

 

48th minute and PSG equalised. Dembele took a powerful shot and it went straight into the top corner before Ter Stegan could react.

 

Dembele’s goal brought PSG’s confidence back. He also celebrated this goal against his former club.

 

2 minutes after the equaliser Vitinha gave PSG the lead from a perfect pass from Fabian.

 

The score was 2-1.

 

Barcelona slowly started getting their rhythm back but silly errors led to more pressure on the backline.

 

64th minute and both the teams made crucial changes to their team.

 

PSG brought on Zaire-emery to replace K. Lee.

Barcelona brought J. Felix and Pedri replacing L. Yamal and S.Roberto respectively.

 

Goal!!!

 

Raphinha scored, putting the visitors back into the game. Pedri gave an assist a minute after being bought on, was just wonderful.

 

The assist was one of his first touches in the game after coming back from a series of injuries.

 

Barcelona managed to hold possession and PSG looked a bit out of place.

 

Substitutions were made in the 76th minute by Barcelona as Christensen replaced F. De Jong and F. Torres replaced Raphinha.

 

Goal!!!!

 

A minute after coming in, Christensen gave the visitors the lead from an assist by Gundogan.

 

85th minute and changes were made on both sides; Fabian came off making way for Goncalo Ramos and Fermin replaced Gudogan.

 

The second half saw 4 minutes of added time.

 

PSG tried their best for a last-minute equaliser but failed.

 

The end of the match shows the following stats:

  

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN		BARCELONA
18/6	SHOTS/ON TARGET	15/7
59%	POSSESSION	41%
88%	PASS ACCURACY	83%
2	GOALS	3

 

The final score was 2- 3 as Barcelona emerged as the winners, as the first leg of the UEFA Champions League came to an end.

 

The most extraordinary performance was from the super subs Pedri and Christensen who made an immediate impact towards the game.

 

Barcelona now hold an advantage for the upcoming second leg of the UEFA Champions League