Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Barcelona: 5 talking points as Blaugrana suffer early exit | UEFA Champions League 2020-21 

#3 Barcelona's wait for UEFA Champions League glory goes on

Barcelona suffered their earliest Champions League exit since 2007

A run of winning three UEFA Champions League crowns in the space of six seasons saw Barcelona fans up the ante in terms of expectations on the continent.

Their quest for continental glory was further exacerbated by Real Madrid's unprecedented three-peat between 2016 and 2018.

However, despite spending over a billion pounds on player transfers, the Blaugrana are no closer to getting their hands on club football's holy grail.

Barcelona's last triumph on the continent came in 2015 as part of a second treble. A run of six years without Champions League glory is unbecoming for a club of their stature.

It was with this in mind that Lionel Messi promised to return the trophy back to Camp Nou at the start of the 2018-2019 season. However, that proved to be a false dawn and three years down, the Catalans are still waiting to get their hands on the 'Big Ears.'

Full Time #PSGBarça pic.twitter.com/fGqYvLLgzV

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 10, 2021

Even more harrowing has been the manner of their eliminations, with embarrassing and scandalous defeats suffered in each of their last five campaigns to the likes of Liverpool, AS Roma, Bayern Munich and Juventus.

It was the same case this season, as a rampant PSG ran out 4-1 victors against Barcelona in the first leg at Camp Nou, inspired by a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick.

Despite redeeming some of their battered image with a more gutsy performance in the second leg, the Blaugrana did not do enough across 180 minutes to secure a spot in the last eight.

This elimination means that Barcelona's wait for Champions League glory will enter a seventh year. Unless they significantly strengthen the playing personnel, it could be an even longer drought.

#2 Inspired Keylor Navas helps keep Barcelona at bay

Keylora Navas produced several fine saves

Keylor Navas was unarguably the man of the match as he put in one of his more impressive performances to ensure his side did not end up on the losing end.

Considering how Barcelona started the game, they should have given themselves a fighting chance with a couple of goals inside the opening minutes, although they met an immovable object in Keylor Navas.

Perhaps his previous ties with Real Madrid gave him an extra reason to bring his A-game against Barcelona. Regardless of the reason, the 34-year-old proved to be the difference between a draw and a defeat for PSG.

He made nine saves in the game, with the most spectacular coming in the 70th minute when he showed great reflexes to keep out a towering header by Sergio Busquets.

FULL-TIME: @PSG_English 1-1 FC Barcelona. Aggregate: 5-2We progress into the quarter finals of the @ChampionsLeague 💪 🏆#UCL | #PSGFCB pic.twitter.com/rqWRniII37

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 10, 2021

He also dived the right way to deny Lionel Messi from the spot, although the Barcelona captain did not work him hard enough from 12 yards.

The one ball that got past Navas was the spectacular thunderbolt by Messi in the first half. In fairness to the PSG goalie, not even two goalkeepers in the post would have stopped the goal.

#1 Lionel Messi goes from hero to zero on potential Barcelona Champions League swan song

Messi will be out of contract in a few months

Lionel Messi drew Barcelona level with an unstoppable shot from 25 yards but he fluffed his lines from 12 yards soon after.

The Rosario native scored five penalties on the continent this season, including one in the first leg against PSG but he missed arguably the most important one of the campaign.

The timing of the opportunity could not have been better, with the penalty awarded with virtually the last kick of the first half.

Had Messi scored, the advantage would have been with Barcelona, as scoring right before halftime would have instilled belief in the visitors' dressing room while raising doubts among the PSG players. However, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner failed to find the back of the net.

#Messi's penalty kick is saved and then caroms off the crossbar! #PSGBarça

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 10, 2021

With a lot of uncertainty currently surrounding Messi's future, there is a genuine possibility that this might have been his final Champions League appearance in a Barcelona shirt.

If that proves to be the case, the 33-year-old signed off with one of the great wonder goals of his career. He will also do so having failed to take a golden opportunity to spark a comeback.