Champions League Barcelona humbled in France as PSG hit four
ANGEL DI MARIA produced two sublime finishes as Paris St Germain thrashed Barcelona 4-0 at the Parc des Princes, leaving the LaLiga giants facing elimination in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The result equalled Barca’s worst in Europe, last achieved by Bayern Munich at the semi-final stage four years ago, but could easily have been worse as they were outfought, outrun and outclassed.
Former Real Madrid playmaker Di Maria opened the scoring with a fine free-kick on his 29th birthday and curled home a second in between efforts from Julian Draxler and another birthday boy, 30-year-old Edinson Cavani.
Barca’s garlanded side were flat from the off, with the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique reduced to bystanders by a lean, focused PSG display.
Unai Emery was without the suspended Thiago Motta and the injured Thiago Silva but saw huge performances in their absence, with Champions League debutant Presnel Kimpembe, Marco Veratti and Adrien Rabiot all rivalling the goalscorers.
The home side’s pressure told in the 17th minute after Draxler coaxed a foul from Samuel Umtiti just a couple of yards outside the box. Di Maria struck the ball beautifully, getting his effort up and down in time to leave Ter Stegen no chance.
PSG deservedly doubled their advantage before half-time after an off-colour Messi coughed up possession to Rabiot in midfield.
Veratti advanced at speed and when he switched the play to Draxler 12 yards out, the German buried his shot.
The second half was even more one-sided, the Spanish giants lethargic and susceptible to PSG’s pace and purpose in attack.
It took them just under 10 minutes to score again, this time building from the back and sweeping aside a tired press from the Barca frontline.
Di Maria was the ultimate target and he was inexplicably allowed to cut in from the right, unchallenged as he moved into shooting range and bent a left-footed effort into the corner.
The fourth felt inevitable and was threatened on several occasions before Thomas Meunier sauntered upfield and slotted in Cavani. With Pique failing to get tight enough, the striker calmly dispatched his shot past Ter Stegen to send the hosts into dreamland. (Ayr win 2-1 aet)