MBAPPE TREBLE PUTS BARCA IN A REAL MESSI

TONY BANKS

KYLIAN MBAPPE hit a hat-trick to blow away Barcelona.

The Paris Saint-germain superstar outshone Lionel Messi with a superb treble in what could now be the little Argentine’s last-ever Champions League game at the Nou Camp.

Barca face a mighty task in Paris in the second leg of this last-16 tie – after being utterly outplayed on their own turf.

Mauricio Pochettino outfoxed the hosts with a tactical masterclass, against the club who once wanted him as their coach.

And it was brilliant threegoal France striker Mbappe, 22, who Barcelona could not handle, with Moise Kean also on the scoresheet.

Barcelona famously turned over a 4-0 first-leg deficit when the two sides met at this stage in 2017, winning the second leg 6-1. They are going to need another miracle in Paris.

Messi’s pass put Frenkie de Jong clear, but he was clipped in the box by Lavvin Kurzawa. Messi (above) needed no second invitation to ram home the penalty for his 654th Barcelona goal.

The Catalans should have gone further ahead but Ousmane Dembele fired straight at Keylor Navas. But PSG were unlucky to be behind and five minutes later they struck.

Kurzawa crossed, Marco Verratti cleverly flicked on, and Mbappe sidestepped a challenge to slot home. Although Antoine Griezmann missed when he broke again, the better chances still fell to PSG, as Marcandre ter Stegen saved Kurzawa’s shot and then stopped Kean’s effort – and Mauro Icardi headed an inch wide.

Barca never looked happy against Mbappe’s pace and were undone again when the young Frenchman drove home from Alessandro Florenzi’s cross.

PSG’S third arrived when Barca’s defence went missing again and an unmarked Kean headed home.

Five minutes from time Mbappe grabbed his hat-trick, as he raced onto substitute Julian Draxler’s pass – to sum up Barca’s wretched night.

TREBLE MAKER Mbappe celebrates after completing hat-trick

ON THE RUN Mbappe powers past Barca’s defence to equalise