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Barcelona were unable to repeat history in the UEFA Champions League this week as they crashed out of the competition after an entertaining 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. The French champions managed a 5-2 aggregate scoreline and have progressed to the quarterfinals courtesy of Kylian Mbappe's first-leg heroics.
Barcelona created numerous chances on the day but were wasteful in the final third and will be left to rue missed opportunities. Lionel Messi scored a stunning goal against Paris Saint-Germain but also had a penalty saved in what was a thrilling encounter.
Barcelona failed to take their chances against Paris Saint-Germain
Barcelona took an unsurprisingly aggressive approach to their game and pinned Paris Saint-Germain back in their own half. The Catalans were relentless with their pressing and the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Sergino Dest threatened the French champions' goal on a number of occasions.
Kylian Mbappe was in no mood to let Barcelona off the hook, however, and scored a penalty to put Paris Saint-Germain further ahead. Lionel Messi responded with a screamer of a goal at the other end to restore parity only a few minutes later.
The first half ended in plenty of drama as Paris Saint-Germain had a penalty of their own at the stroke of half-time. Lionel Messi stepped up to take the spot-kick but his effort was brilliantly saved by Keylor Navas.
Barcelona approached the second half with similar intent but were met by a rejuvenated Paris Saint-Germain side. The French giants seemed focussed on their defensive structure and Mauricio Pochettino managed to starve Barcelona of clear-cut chances.
The Blaugrana did create a fair few chances but were denied by some excellent tackles and saves. Paris Saint-Germain were composed with their defence, however, and managed to keep the scores level at the end of the game.
Paris Saint-Germain Player Ratings
Keylor Navas - 8.5/10
Keylor Navas needed to deliver against Barcelona today and was his near-invincible self against a barrage of Catalan attacks in the first half. The former Real Madrid man could do nothing about Lionel Messi's stunning goal but more than made amends with an excellent penalty save.
Presnel Kimpembe - 7/10
Presnel Kimpembe marshalled Lionel Messi and did not find it easy against the diminutive Argentine talisman. The talented defender did well in the second half and enjoyed a fruitful game.
Marquinhos - 8/10
Marquinhos was stretched by Barcelona in the first half but largely managed to hold his own against the Catalans. The Brazilian centre-back pitched in with several crucial interventions after half-time and guided his side across the finish line.
Layvin Kurzawa - 4/10
Layvin Kurzawa endured a dismal first half and was run ragged by Sergino Dest on the flank. The full-back was lucky not to receive a second yellow card and was taken off for Abdou Diallo at the start of the second half.
Alessandro Florenzi - 6/10
Alessandro Florenzi was kept on his toes by Jordi Alba and Ousmane Dembele for most of the game and held his own against the duo. The Italian defender picked up a knock in the second half and was unable to complete the game.
Idrissa Gueye - 6.5/10
Idrissa Gueye had a good outing and was a robust presence for Paris Saint-Germain in the middle of the pitch. The defensive midfielder threw himself into several tackles and was replaced by Danilo at the hour-mark.
Leandro Paredes - 6/10
Leandro Paredes struggled against Barcelona's creative maestros and had to cover a lot of ground to keep up with the Blaugrana. The Argentine midfielder put in some crunching tackles and received a yellow card for his efforts.
Marco Verratti - 5.5/10
Marco Verratti saw very little of the ball as Barcelona dominated most of the game. The Italian midfielder did complete a few retrievals but was unable to get the better of the experienced Sergio Busquets.
Julian Draxler - 4.5/10
Julian Draxler was largely anonymous against Barcelona and had little to no impact on the proceedings at the Parc des Princes. The German attacker was replaced by Angel Di Maria at the hour-mark.
Kylian Mbappe - 7/10
Kylian Mbappe was given a golden opportunity to add to his goal tally in the first half and took his penalty with aplomb to keep Barcelona's hopes deflated. The French winger was uncharacteristically quiet in the second half but did his part to ensure that Paris Saint-Germain progressed to the quarter-finals.
Mauro Icardi - 6/10
Mauro Icardi won a fairly fortuitous penalty for Paris Saint-Germain after he was unintentionally tripped by Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet at the half-hour mark.
Substitutes
Abdou Diallo - 7/10
Abdou Diallo was an improvement over Layvin Kurzawa on the left flank and won his battles against Sergino Dest. The youngster troubled Barcelona with his runs and made a positive impact on Paris Saint-Germain's game.
Danilo - 7.5/10
Danilo made several game-changing interceptions in his own penalty area and denied Barcelona's a path back into the fixture on several occasions.
Angel Di Maria - 6.5/10
Angel Di Maria was brought on as a counter-attacking avenue in the second half and did manage to initiate a few good passages of play against Barcelona.
Colin Dagba - 6/10
Colin Dagba came on in the second half and put in a robust shift as Paris Saint-Germain looked to maintain their aggregate lead.
Rafinha - 6/10
Rafinha was a late substitute for Marco Verratti and was unable to make much of an impact against his boyhood club.
Also Read: 5 of Lionel Messi’s best teammates at Argentina
Barcelona Player Ratings
Marc-Andre ter Stegen - 6.5/10
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had surprisingly little to do against Paris Saint-Germain but did pull off a couple of saves against Kylian Mbappe. The German shot-stopper was effective with his distribution and cannot be faulted for the penalty.
Clement Lenglet - 6/10
Clement Lenglet has not enjoyed the best of seasons at Barcelona so far but can count himself unlucky for conceding a soft penalty. The French defender did have his problems against Paris Saint-Germain but managed to put in a composed performance.
Oscar Mingueza - 6/10
Oscar Mingueza did well to track Kylian Mbappe in the opening stages of the game but did pick up a booking for a pull on the Frenchman's shirt. The La Masia graduate grew flustered after his yellow card and was replaced by Junior Firpo after the half-hour mark.
Frenkie de Jong - 7.5/10
In the absence of Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong had to fill in as a defender for Barcelona and pulled off a commendable performance. The Dutch midfielder was excellent with the ball at his feet and was impressive in Barcelona's defence.
Jordi Alba - 6.5/10
Jordi Alba was a constant presence in Paris Saint-Germain's half of the pitch and seemed intent on playing as an auxiliary winger. The Catalan left-back played some inviting crosses into the penalty area and had a good game.
Sergino Dest - 7/10
Sergino Dest put in an impressive performance for Barcelona and tormented Layvin Kurzawa in the first half. The American teenager was inches away from a goal and was taken off after the hour-mark as Barcelona looked to take their aggression up a notch.
Sergio Busquets - 6.5/10
Sergio Busquets dominated the midfield against Paris Saint-Germain and won the ball back on several occasions for Barcelona. The Catalan veteran was accurate with his passes and had a positive outing.
Pedri - 7/10
Pedri showed plenty of poise and guile against a strong Paris Saint-Germain and was ambitious with his movement both on and off the ball. The Barcelona youngster continues to prove himself against the world's best players and will have an excellent future at the club.
Antoine Griezmann - 6.5/10
Antoine Griezmann was heavily involved in Barcelona's link-up play and created a number of chances throughout the game. The French striker was unable to provide Barcelona with a final product, however, and will need to work hard to keep his place in the side.
Ousmane Dembele - 5.5/10
Despite a multitude of chances falling to Barcelona's pacy winger, it was simply not Ousmane Dembele's day today. The Frenchman failed to convert several shots on target in the first half and misplaced his fair share of passes in the final third.
Lionel Messi - 7.5/10
Lionel Messi was the beating heart of Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain and proved a point with an exceptional long-range goal in the first half. The talismanic captain did miss a penalty but was impressive with the ball at his feet.
Substitutes
Junior Firpo - 6.5/10
Junior Firpo came on for Oscar Mingueza in the first half and did a good job against Kylian Mbappe for most of the game.
Francisco Trincao - 6.5/10
Francisco Trincao did manage to trouble Paris Saint-Germain with his dribbling skills but was unable to find his teammates in the final third.
Ilaix Moriba - 6/10
Ilaix Moriba is an excellent player and was given another opportunity against one of the best teams in the world. The youngster did manage a few good passes and will be better off for the experience.
Miralem Pjanic - 6/10
Miralem Pjanic replaced Sergio Busquets in the second half but was unable to unlock a stubborn Paris Saint-Germain defence.
Martin Braithwaite - 6/10
Martin Braithwaite was a late substitute and has very little impact on the match against Paris Saint-Germain
