The lamb, or so they said, ate the wolf, or so they said. A Barça that had not been to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for four years, cruelly beaten by Europe in its last excursions, stood in Paris to proclaim a “here I am” as unexpected as it was emotional. The Blaugrana club returned to the elite by knocking down the door of the Parc des Princes, ratifying a revolution in the city that knows them best, proclaiming a candidacy that a couple of months ago sounded like a joke. Xavi’s Barça continues its unexpected improvement, this time on a stage and against a rival that does not allow readings that attenuate success, against a financially doped PSG, with stars like Mbappé and a top coach. There are no amendments to the culé function. The Parisian fans prepared a lavish party and an old guest ruined it. A second episode is missing, of course. Montjuïc will hand down the sentence next Tuesday and PSG may have the potential for anything. But the reconstruction that Xavi spoke about stubbornly and against the grain is taking shape. Europe saw a Barça to be proud of. A 2-3 in Paris draws a lot of attention.
Barcelona fans savored the victory like never before because of its meaning and its message, but also because of the rival chosen to achieve it. PSG hates Barça with all their soul. Founded in 1970 and without major enemies in their country because their dominance borders on financial bullinyg, the French in the capital need to create antagonists to invent the bit of history they lack, and they have chosen Barcelona. It is assumed that their greatest grievance is “the comeback”, as they even call it, so the successive transfers of Neymar, Messi and Dembélé to the Cirque du Soleil that they have set up there consider it a logical compensation. That fear was palpable before the game started. The shout of encouragement from the stands was more “Puta Barça” than “ici c’est Paris”. The entire previous choreographic discourse gravitated around that idea, with epic music from the public address system when reference was made to PSG and fear when reference was made to Barça. All very obsessive and quite childish.
The paraphernalia did not deter a Barça with adult behavior, magnificent in the first half. Xavi’s lineup contained a surprise that could have had to do with that pause. The big question was who would start between Sergi Roberto and Frenkie de Jong and in the end both of them started. Christensen, the key piece on which the argument of the Blaugrana’s defensive improvement was based, remained on the bench. The coach therefore opted for a midfield that was much more ball-playing than physical, which Gündogan completed in the advanced position that he likes so much, and the setup worked. De Jong and Sergi Roberto alternated as pivot. Mbappé’s marking, also much commented on in the previous days, was combined by Koundé, Araújo and even Cubarsí, in a choral vigilance that perfectly described the team spirit that has returned to Barça.
Barça’s staging was therefore consistent, cautious at the back and selecting attacks, with the players aware that the match would be followed by another next week. He selected them so well that the first real opportunities were for Blaugranas. Following a corner, Lewandowski avoided Donnarumma’s timid exit and was saved by Nuno Mendes on the line with his header. Immediately afterwards, as always hyperactive whether it works for good or bad, Raphinha tried it from a distance and the PSG goalkeeper had to stretch to send the ball for a corner. The game was looking good for Xavi’s team, different from the predictions of abuse from the most fearful.
PSG’s response was not threatening in the first half. He released Vitinha’s left foot after a raid by Dembélé but the shot was parried by Ter Stegen, well positioned, with both hands. The French imagined a stormy exit that did not happen and Barça was doing it, playing in the center of the field, feeling better and better about themselves, delighted to meet each other. And the first goal arrived. Lewandowoski began the adventure in the center circle, opened for the jewel in the crown, the ‘teenager’ Lamine Yamal, and he ran the lane until returning it to the Pole. Donnarumma saw it pass and Raphinha caught the rebound to score with his right foot. Barça went ahead and broke the script. Not only that, he left an aftertaste when he retired to the booth during the break of having the situation under control.
It was a mirage, a deceptive sensation very typical of the Champions League. What happened to City at the Bernabéu was experienced by Barça in Paris. Two goals in three minutes, from 48 to 51. PSG’s exit after the break was an animalistic one that left Barça groggy, as if their players were different. The first lash was delivered by Dembélé, of course. The French winger applied two trademark sharp cuts to De Jong and hit the ball as if he hated it, picking up a speed that disconcerted Ter Stegen. Did the mosquito celebrate it despite living six seasons in Barcelona and wearing the blue and scarlet shirt? Well, if he did it, he hit a sato that didn’t touch the retractable roof because the Parc des Princes doesn’t have it. The second goal of the comeback (a mini, the others are copyright) was scored by Vitinha in an electric attack by Kang-in Lee.
The moments after those flashes were the worst for Barça, aware that a third goal would knock them out psychologically. Their players held on as best they could, they saw a ball bounce off the crossbar sent by Barcola, but they were able to recover, belying their reputation for fragility. Xavi played his role in the resistance. He introduced Joao Félix and Pedri into the field instead of Sergi Roberto and Lamine Yamal and the Canarian, in one of his first balls, threw Raphinha into the open field. The Brazilian chose well the day when his price and his quality converged. He caught the ball on the fly and hit it into the net. A marvel.
Barça had more scares (a ball hit Dembélé’s post), but they did not back down, they decided to threaten in response to the Parisian challenge. The match at that point was already of a vibrant, scandalous rise, typical of an extraordinary competition. And the Blaugrana team said come on, this is mine. Once again Xavi had to do it. He introduced Christensen and he finished off a corner served by Gündogan from the left in the small area. Donnarumma was a calamity and Barça a celebration. Who was going to say it.
2 – Paris SG: Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Lucas Hernandez, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Lee (Zaïre-Emery, m.61), Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz (Ramos, m.86); Asensio (Barcola, m.46), Dembelé, Mbappé
3 – Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Cancelo; Sergi Roberto (Pedri, m.61), De Jong (Christensen, m.76), Gündogan (Fermín, m.86); Laminem (Joao Félix, m.61), Lewandowski, Rafinha (Ferran Torres, m.76)
Goals: 0-1, m.37: Raphinha; 1-1, m.48: Dembele; 2-1, m.50: Wine; 2-2, m.62: Leaf; 2-3, m.77: Christensen
Referee: Anthony Taylor (ING), admonished the locals Vitinha and Belardo and the visitors Sergi Roberto, Cubarsí, Christensen and Fermín.
Incidents: First leg of the Champions League quarterfinals played at the Parc des Princes in Paris in front of around 47,000 spectators.
