Barcelona: Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain beat 10-man Barcelona 4-1 to reach the Champions League semi-finals 6-4 on Tuesday.
Rafinha dismissed Barcelona early, but Ronald Araujo’s 29th-minute red card turned the tide in PSG’s favor despite the Spanish champions taking a two-goal lead in a 3-2 quarter-final victory.
Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha equalized for PSG and Mbappe scored a brace at the death to reach the last four for the first time since 2021 and set up a rematch with Borussia Dortmund, who played twice in the group stage.
“Hats off to Kylian, look how he clicked, you lead the team,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said of the striker’s all-round contribution.
“Any time Kylian can prove that we are better.”
The French champions failed to win the trophy despite the huge investment but showed that they have attacking weapons in their squad.
“We will try at Wembley.”
“It looks bad, but the team is focused – no matter what, we have to beat Barcelona,” said Dembele, who was booed by his former club’s fans.
Five-time champions Barcelona are dreaming of a return to their first semi-final since 2019, but Araudu’s red card for pulling off regular Bradley Barkola undermined his influence on the game.
Xavi blamed his coach for one of the European nightmares for the Catalans, who last lifted the trophy in 2015.
The visitors started with determination and wrote Barcelona into their own territory, but the host took the lead.
The explosive 16-year-old star Lamine Yamal headed past Nuno Mendes at the near post where Raphinha headed home the third goal of the tie.
Another PSG forward found the net, but Barcol swung the game in PSG’s favour.
The winger touched Mbappe but was denied by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen before Araujo was sent off for bringing him down.
The Uruguayan centre-back pushed Barcola back as he entered the area, leaving Barcola with 10 men.
Dembele hit the back post after 40 minutes from another Barcola cross where he fired into the roof of the net.
Barcelona sacrificed Yamal for defender Inigo Martinez after Araujo’s red card, leaving little room for attacking trade.
Barcelona soon paid the price, with PSG dominating the match. Vitinha was given plenty of space on the edge of the box and drilled into the bottom corner to give PSG the lead on the night.
Ilkay Gundogan scored another point for Barcelona before coach Xavi waved away dissent on the touchline.
“Since I’ve been here, we haven’t had any refereeing decisions, they’ve all been bad for us,” Xavi said.
“That must be weird.”
The Catalans lost their heads despite pointing the finger and Joao Cancelo Dembele made a mistake to give PSG a penalty.
Mbappe, who was quiet in the first leg, headed into the top corner for his 40th goal in all competitions.
The striker’s future may lie in Spain, with Real Madrid trying to sign him in the summer at the end of his contract, and he has no friends in Barcelona as he runs to fans, pushing advertising packages.
Another member of Barcelona’s backroom staff revealed that Gundoga’s penalty appeal was rejected and the hosts did not respond.
Mbappe scored the winner in the 89th minute after ter Stegen’s double saved, leaving Barcelona the victims of a disappointing night in Europe.
“If you play with 10 in Europe, you know you’re going to suffer,” Barcelona midfielder Franky de Ongong told Movistar.
PSG punish 10-man Barca to reach Champions League semis
