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.
MAKING HIS MARC
On a night where Kylian Mbappe made the world sit up and take note, he received praise from one of the Premier League’s best.
Marcus Rashford took to Twitter to laud the PSG forward following his hat-trick.
In his first game at Camp Nou, and his first time facing Barcelona…Kylian Mbappe completes a wonderful hat-trick with a SUBLIME finish 🤩We are witnessing greatness! pic.twitter.com/7uc84LQ2nE
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 16, 2021
DOUBLE OR QUITS
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that he told Kylian Mbappe he has won just once at Barcelona before, with Espanyol.
In his press conference, he said: “Yesterday, at training, he asked me how many times I had won at the Camp Nou. Once, I told him.
“He replied to me: ‘Tomorrow, we are going to win a second time’. He is a top player.”
SIX OF THE WORST
Barcelona may draw some inspiration from their famous 6-1 win over PSG in 2017, in which they overturned a four-goal deficit.
However, Ronald Koeman has warned Barca fans not to expect the same this time around.
He said: “You always have to play another game but 1-4 is very difficult because, and I could lie, but losing 4-1 at home, there’s hardly any chance of getting through.”
COMPARING KYLIAN
All the talk this evening has been about Kylian Mbappe and where he ranks among the best players in the world – especially when the careers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are drawing to a close.
And when it comes to scoring hat-tricks in the Champions League knockout stage, the young Frenchman has a head start on those two legends of the game.
Age when scoring their first #UCL knockout hat-trick:✰ Kylian Mbappe: 22 years, 1 months, 27 days (vs. Barcelona)✰ Lionel Messi: 22 years, 9 months, 14 days (vs. Arsenal)✰ Cristiano Ronaldo: 31 years, 2 months, 7 days (vs. Wolfsburg) pic.twitter.com/fUgBM68rk8
— Jahin (@jahin14) February 16, 2021
BEST IN THE WORLD?
In the BT Sport studio, Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Peter Crouch have been heaping more praise on PSG’s young hot-shot.
“Mbappe is on his own.” 📈”People forget he’s 22 years old!” 🤯”He’s the guy who’s going to take the throne.” 🤴”He’s in with a good shout for the Ballon d’Or this year.” 🥇Praise of the highest order for Mbappe! pic.twitter.com/vv1gIrxUf1
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 16, 2021
MBAPPE SHINING BRIGHTEST
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos has also praised Kylian Mbappe for his individual brilliance this evening. Speaking to RMC Sport, the Brazilian singled out the hat-trick scorer as being the one capable of winning the big games.
He shone and everyone is happy with his performance. When Kylian shines in the big matches, he makes the difference. He brought us this victory. As we often say, football is a team sport, but when the team is strong, it is the individuals that shine.
MarquinhosRMC
THE KOEM-BACK ISN’T ON
Ronald Koeman poured cold water on Barcelona’s chances of achieving a 2017-style comeback against PSG.
He said: “In the second half they were better and they were very effective.
“In the first half it was a more even game.
“There are very few chances to come back.”
KYLIAN’S FANTASTIC FORTY
With his hat-trick this evening, Kylian Mbappe took his Champions League goal involvements to an astonishing 40.
In just 41 games for Monaco and PSG, the 22-year-old has now scored 24 and provided 16 assists.
Kylian Mbappé has now been directly involved in 40 Champions League goals since making his debut in 2016-17:✰ 41 games✰ 24 goals✰ 16 assistsAn absolutely bonkers record. #UCL pic.twitter.com/Y1NQTiDZGy
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 16, 2021
VER-Y GOOD
One PSG star who will have enjoyed today as much as anyone is Marco Verratti.
The Italian was one of the standout poor performers during the 6-1 game four years ago, and gave away the winning free kick by needlessly fouling goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
But today he was singled out for special praise by boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Poch said: “He is a player with a very good ability to read the game.
“He allows for us each time to have attacking possession and to bring the ball out into good situations, to better start off attacks.
“In attacking phases, he can double his efforts and provoke situations going forward. For me, he is a truly great player.”
LIGHTYEARS AWAY
Arsene Wenger claims Barcelona will take three or four years to get back to a level where they can compete for the Champions League.
He commented: “They are 1.1bn (euros) down.
“So they have two handicaps. They need to rebuild the squad and they have no money.
“To me it looks this is a job of three or four years for Barcelona to come back.
“And they also have a choice to make. Do they extend Messi or not?
“Because if they extend Messi they have no money at all for anybody else.”
LEO BOWS OUT?
Despite the evening starting so well with a converted penalty, Lionel Messi trudged off at the final whistle with his head bowed.
Out of contract in the summer and with his future clouded in uncertainty, has the Barcelona captain played his last Champions League game for the Catalans at the Camp Nou?
NO MESS-ING
Arsene Wenger has had his say on a potential PSG move for Lionel Messi.
And his view is very clear – when you have Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, what more do you need?
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.”
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.
Mbappe JOGANDO MUITO….. HAT-TRICK do meu menino 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) February 16, 2021
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.
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
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.
Barcelona’s 4-1 defeat to PSG was their second home defeat by three or more goals this season (also 0-3 vs Juventus).It’s as many as they suffered in their previous 20 seasons combined in all competitions. Yes, really. pic.twitter.com/PjahMiwDk0
— The Blizzard (@blzzrd) February 16, 2021
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.
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.
FT: BARCELONA 1-4 PSG
A sensational scoreline at the Camp Nou! Kylian Mbappe and his PSG side have torn Barcelona apart to register a 4-1 first leg lead ahead of the return at Parc des Princes next month. Mbappe was the star of the show with a hat-trick while Moise Kean bagged the other, and all after Lionel Messi had fired the Catalans ahead from the penalty spot.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!IT’S ALL OVER AT THE CAMP NOU!WHAT A NIGHT FOR PSG!WHAT A NIGHT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE!
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.
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.
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.
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!KYLIAN MBAPPE HAS A HAT-TRICK!!
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