BARCELONA will require a comeback almost as impressive as their 6-1 win in 2017 after a hammering by PSG at the Nou Camp.
At the stadium where Lionel Messi has swept all before him for almost two decades, the night was all about Kylian Mbappe as the World Cup winner netted a stunning hat-trick.
- sstreet
BARC AND BITE
Paris Saint-Germain's 4-1 win at the Nou Camp will be particularly sweet for boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine – a legend at Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol – once said he'd rather work on a farm than ever manage Barca.
In a 2018 interview, Poch commented: "I am never going to be manager of Barcelona or Arsenal because I am so identified with Tottenham and Espanyol.
“I grew up in Newell's Old Boys and will never manage Rosario Central.
"That is my decision because I prefer to work on my farm in Argentina than in some places."
- Sam Dymond
NEYMAR DELIGHT
Injured for this evening's encounter, Neymar has taken to Twitter to express his joy and appreciation at the exploits of his PSG teammate.
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KOEM OVER?
An 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich did for Quique Setien in last year's Champions League.
And although this result wasn't as humiliating, serious questions will be asked of Ronald Koeman.
Critics of the Dutchman are already out in force after he was seen smiling at the final whistle of the 4-1 defeat to PSG.
- Sam Dymond
ANTOINE IN AWE
Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann was clearly disappointed at the final whistle but still found the energy and humility to praise international teammate, Kylian Mbappe. Speaking to French network RMC, the forward said his compatriot has the ability to match the very best the game has seen.
We all need to enjoy Kylian [Mbappe], because PSG have a player who will be of the class of Leo [Messi] & Cristiano [Ronaldo]
Antoine GriezmannRMC
- Sam Dymond
BROKEN BARCA
It's been another embarrassing night for Barcelona on the European stage.
Throw in the 8-2 thumping to Bayern Munich last season, and the 3-0 defeat to Juventus earlier in this campaign, it's clear changes are required at the Camp Nou.
- Sam Dymond
PAINTING A THOUSAND WORDS
If ever a single image accurately summed up a match, and the rise of a superstar against Barcelona's old guard, it's this one.
- Sam Dymond
PRIDE OF PARIS
What a night it's been for Kylian Mbappe.
The 22-year-old is only the third player to score a Champions League hat-trick against Barcelona following in the footsteps of Faustino Asprilla for Newcastle and Andriy Shevchenko for Dynamo Kyiv, both back in 1997.
- Sam Dymond
FT: BARCELONA 1-4 PSG
- Sam Dymond
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
IT'S ALL OVER AT THE CAMP NOU!
WHAT A NIGHT FOR PSG!
WHAT A NIGHT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE!
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-4 PSG
90+4. A slight sight of goal for Martin Braithwaite, but the PSG defence and goalkeeper combine to deny the forward. It's enough to make you wish you were back in Middlesbrough.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-4 PSG
90. Five minutes of stoppage time are signalled.
Then it will be time for PSG to celebrate, and for the Barcelona inquest to begin.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-4 PSG
86. Wonderful from Kylian Mbappe! Wonderful from Paris Saint-Germain!
With Barcelona throwing men forward in the hope of salvaging the tie, the visitors have picked them off in style.
Substitute Julian Draxler does brilliantly to lead the charge, drawing the remaining defenders, and then slipping a well-weighted pass left to Mbappe.
There's still much for Mbappe to do, but he does it incredibly well, planting a first-time curling shot beyond Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and into the top corner. Sensational!
It's the first hat-trick scored by a visiting player in the Champions League since Andriy Shevchenko for Dynamo Kyiv in 1997.
- Sam Dymond
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!
KYLIAN MBAPPE HAS A HAT-TRICK!! - Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-3 PSG
82. Aargh!
Keylor Navas almost undoes PSG's incredible work with a howler that even Alisson would have been embarrassed by.
The goalkeeper tries to flick the ball beyond Griezmann, only to clatter it straight into the Barcelona forward.
The Costa Rican has his head in his hands and his heart in his mouth, but he is ultimately relieved to see the ball drop the other side of the far post.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-3 PSG
79. Summoning the spirit of Barry Fry, Ronald Koeman goes for broke with a triple substitution.
On: Miralem Pjanic, Riqui Puig and Francisco Trincao.
Off: Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Pedri.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-3 PSG
77. Three away goals, and a two-goal advantage, PSG know they are in complete control of this tie and are now happy to see out time.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-3 PSG
75. Another change for the visitors. Julian Draxler replaces Marco Verratti, who has been excellent on his return from injury.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-3 PSG
72. Segino Dest has had the most difficult of nights in trying to keep Kylian Mbappe under wraps, and he's going to sit out the final stages of this one.. On comes Oscar Mingueza.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-3 PSG
70. Paris Saint-Germain are taking the tie away from Barcelona!
It's so simple for the Parisians! It's so slack from the Catalans!
Leandro Paredes floats in a free-kick to the far post, and there's Moise Kean – unmarked and unchallenged – to plant a downward header beyond Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
What a night for PSG!
- Sam Dymond
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!
MOISE KEAN MAKES IT THREE!! - Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-2 PSG
68. Mbappe so close to the hat-trick!
The young superstar turns the Barcelona defence inside out, only for Ter Stegen to deny him with his feet.
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-2 PSG
65. What a turnaround!
Leandro Paredes' brilliant pass over the top finds Allesandro Florenzi bursting down the right.
With time to weigh up his options, the Italian fizzes a low delivery across the face of goal that beats Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
It's blocked by the recovering Gerard Pique, but only as far as Kylian Mbappe ten yards out. PSG's main man keeps his cool and fires into the open net.
PSG celebrate, but VAR are already looking at a possible offside against Florenzi. The lines are out but the midfielder is level and the goal will stand!
- Sam Dymond
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!
KYLIAN MBAPPE DOES IT AGAIN!! - Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-1 PSG
62. Barcelona have livened up as Dembele brings about a low stop from Navas.
Messi is less than impressed, however, and points out to his fellow forward that he was well placed to have received a pass.
Moments earlier, there were penalty shouts…
- Sam Dymond
BARCELONA 1-1 PSG
59. There was only ever going to be one person taking this free-kick.
Messi steps up, and clips the top of the wall with his shot, before it spins away for a corner.
From the next set-piece delivery, Griezmann throws himself at a far post header but the ball drops wide.
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