PSG v Barcelona Live Commentary & Result, 10/03/2021, UEFA Champions League

That’s all for now. Goodbye!

So, there will be no Barca in the last eight, but last year’s runners up are through and, with a bit of luck for Pochettino, Neymar will be fit by the time those games roll around.

It’s all over in Paris, and PSG have progressed 5-2 on aggregate. After a thrilling first half, Barca could just not find a way through in the second half, but even if they had scored, they would have needed to repeat it another two times without conceding even to force extra-time. As it is, Messi’s penalty miss on the stroke of half-time probably signalled the end of Barca’s comeback hopes.

90' + 4' FULL TIME: PSG 1-1 BARCELONA (5-2 ON AGGREGATE).

90' + 2' One final chance for Barca, but Firpo heads over from Messi’s cross, moments after Mbappe had blazed over at the other end.

M. Icardi

Yellow Card

89' That’s a booking for Icardi, who scythed down De Jong to stop the Dutchman driving into PSG’s half.

87' Unless Barca manage a miracle comeback, this will be the first Champions League season without Messi or Ronaldo featuring in the last eight since 2004-05.

85' That’s a waste from Griezmann, and it shows Barca’s frustration. He was in a good position with plenty of support, but elected to shoot, and sends his effort way off target.

Rafinha

M. Verratti

84' Another change for PSG, and it is Rafinha who is going to make an appearance against his former club. He has replaced Verratti.

83' A rare PSG break sees Mbappe release Icardi, but he is forced wide by De Jong and the angle is cut down. He tries a shot, but sends it flying over the crossbar.

82' It’s one-way traffic, as it has been for the majority of the second half, but Barca still can’t find a way through, with Marquinhos leading a fantastic defensive effort from PSG.

Ilaix Kourouma

Sergio Busquets

79' Busquets has gone off, with Ilaix on.

M. Braithwaite

O. Dembélé

78' Braithwaite is also on for Barca. Dembele has gone off, after missing some big opportunities.

M. Pjanić

Pedri

78' For Barca, Pedri makes way for Pjanic.

C. Dagba

A. Florenzi

76' A glut of changes now. Florenzi has gone off for PSG, to be replaced by Dagba.

76' CLOSE! Another chance for Dembele! He got into a good position, but just lacked the clinical nature to stick out a leg and prod in an exceptional cross from Alba.

75' Icardi gets to Messi’s cross, heading it as far out as Trincao. The Portugal winger meets it on the volley, but the strike doesn’t get through a crowd of PSG defenders.

74' A chance for Barca now, after Messi draws a foul on the edge of PSG’s area, to the left-hand side. He stands over the free-kick, and will look to cross it in…

72' In contrast to the amount of shots Barca managed in the first half, there has only been two attempts so far from either team since the restart.

70' SAVE! Great goalkeeping from Navas, who reacted brilliantly to dive to his right and keep out Busquets’ header at the near post. It remains 1-1!

68' Brilliant defending from Marquinhos, who skips across to prevent Messi getting on the end of a deflected clearance from Danilo.

67' Since that chance for Messi, Barca have been unable to build pressure on PSG’s line, with Pochettino’s changes having the desired effect of disrupting the visitors’ play just enough to keep them at arm’s length.

Trincão

S. Dest

66' A change for Barca, and it is an attacking one. Dest has made way for Trincao.

63' Messi has been involved in 21 goals in 2021 (15 goals, six assists), surpassing Lewandowski (20) - the most by any player within the top five Euro leagues since the turn of the year. However, his penalty miss was his first in the Champions League since February 2015.

61' CHANCE! A bit of pinball in the area almost sees Messi find a gap, but his close-range shot is blocked. Griezmann tries to latch onto the loose ball, but can’t connect with it.

Danilo Pereira

I. Gueye

60' The second switch sees Danilo replace Gueye, who of course had just been booked.

Á. Di María

J. Draxler

59' Two changes for PSG. First, Di Maria – who is just back from injury – replaces Draxler.

57' It has been all Barca since the restart, but still no sign of a clear opening. Dest tries to latch onto a Griezmann flick, but the young full-back can’t keep the ball in play before hooking in a cross.

54' Lots of pressure is on PSG’s defence, but for now they are holding firm. Dest tries to pick out a team-mate in a crowded penalty area, but Navas claims it.

52' PSG faced nine shots on target in the first half their highest half-time tally in a Champions League game since 2003-04. The last team to have so many shots on target in the first 45 minutes of a match in the UCL was PSG themselves, against Red Star Belgrade in October 2018 (nine).

L. Paredes

Yellow Card

50' Paredes has also gone into the book, it seems for dissent. That will keep the midfielder out of the first leg of the quarter-finals, should PSG progress.

I. Gueye

Yellow Card

50' A booking for Gueye, who barged into Griezmann in order to prevent a Barca counter-attack taking shape.

48' Barca had 16 shots during the opening 45 minutes, the most they've had in the first half of any game this season, and their most since January 2019 (against Levante).

46' KICK-OFF! The game’s back up and running for the second half.

A. Diallo

L. Kurzawa

46' There has been a change for PSG at half-time. Diallo is on for Kurzawa, who had a rough time of it in the first half and conceded the penalty.

We could be in for a wonderful second-half, if the first was anything to go by. Barca need to score three without conceding to take this tie to extra-time, but will that penalty miss have taken the wind out of their sails? PSG have looked far from assured at the back, but with Mbappe as an outball, always have a threat.

What a first half that was! Superb drama in this Champions League tie, with PSG having gone ahead after Icardi was awarded a fortuitous penalty – Mbappe putting it away in some style. Messi cracked in a brilliant long-range strike to draw Barca level, only to then see a stoppage-time penalty saved by Navas.

45' + 5' HALF-TIME: PSG 1-1 BARCELONA (5-2 ON AGGREGATE).

45' + 5' OFF THE LINE! Busquets flicks on Messi’s corner and it seemed to be heading goal wards, but it is hooked away by a PSG defender.

45' + 4' There has been a check for a potential encroachment from a PSG defender, but Barca’s luck is out and there was no infringement.

K. Navas

Penalty Save

45' + 3' SAVED! Messi can’t make it count! He struck his finish low to Navas’ right, but the Costa Rica goalkeeper guessed right, just managing to get a leg to it, and the ball flicks up and clatters away off the crossbar.

45' + 1' PENALTY TO BARCA! Anthony Taylor has spotted a foul from Kurzawa on Griezmann, and pointed straight to the spot. The full-back concede a penalty in the first game, and has been penalised again this time around for flinging a boot up at Griezmann.

44' Messi has scored 19 goals from outside the box in the Champions League – since his debut in the competition back in December 2004, only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more from range in the competition (20).

42' Navas has to use his feet to clear a drilled effort from PSG’s area, with Barca flooding forward in an attempt to wrest an advantage heading into the break. A long ball then catches the visitors’ defence cold, with Mbappe racing through, but his shot is kept out by Ter Stegen.

40' That was Messi's fifth Champions League goal of the season, but the first that wasn’t a penalty.

F. de Jong

Yellow Card

38' Barca are demanding a penalty after Navas clatters into Griezmann, but there is nothing doing for the referee. Indeed, De Jong receives a booking for his complaints.

Pedri

Assist

37' Pedri gets the assist, but all the credit has to go to Messi. That was sensational from a player that truly is carrying this Barca team.

L. Messi

Goal

37' GOOOAAALLLL!!! WHAT A STRIKE FROM MESSI! Out of nowhere, Barca have the goal their performance has deserved. Not much looked on when Messi picked up possession 30 yards out, but with time and space, the mercurial number 10 thumped an incredible effort into the top-left corner. It had so much dip and power on it, that Navas had no chance. It’s 1-1, and 5-2 on aggregate.

Junior Firpo

Óscar Mingueza

35' An early change for Barca, and it seems Koeman has decided he cannot afford Mingueza – who has looked all at sea up against Mbappe – receiving a second booking. The centre-back has made way for full-back Firpo, with De Jong dropping into defence and Barca seemingly switching to a 3-4-3.

35' HUGE CHANCE! That’s another golden opportunity wasted by Dembele, who has scuffed a close-range shot straight at Navas, after he was played in brilliantly by Griezmann.

34' There is only one scoreline that can send this tie to extra-time, and that would be if Barca went on to win 4-1 in the 90 minutes. The visitors started brightly, but find themselves heading for the exit door.

32' At the age of 22 years and 80 days, Mbappe has become the youngest player in Champions League history to reach 25 goals in the competition. He takes the record from Messi, who achieved the feat at the age of 22 years and 286 days.

K. Mbappé

Penalty Goal

30' GOAL! MBAPPE MAKES NO MISTAKE! Despite all of Barca’s good work, it is 1-0 PSG, with their hero from the first leg slamming a wonderful finish into the top-left corner, sending Ter Stegen the wrong way.

C. Lenglet

Yellow Card

30' That seems incredibly harsh, but Lenglet has received a booking and PSG now have the chance to extend their lead in the tie…

29' The referee has gone to the screen to check. There was definitely contact from Lenglet, though it seemed entirely unintentional. However… the referee has awarded the penalty! It’s a spot-kick to PSG!

28' Icardi has gone down in a heap after trying to get onto a Kurzawa cross, which was hit straight to Ter Stegen. Icardi seems to be claiming there was contact from Lenglet, and VAR will check for a penalty.

27' Barca have already had 10 shots in this game. They only had 12 in the entirety of the first leg. Ten shots is also the most PSG have faced in the first half of any competition this term.

26' That is a silly tackle from Mingueza, who lunged in on Mbappe. If he had not already been booked, he would almost certainly have received a caution there. PSG – and in particular Mbappe – will surely be looking to target the centre-back now.

Óscar Mingueza

Yellow Card

25' Verratti does brilliantly to wriggle away from a crowd of yellow shirts and drill through a pass for Mbappe to race onto. However, the forward is tugged back by Mingueza, who gets a booking.

24' Another chance goes begging! Surely it can only be a matter of time for Barca? Dembele had space down the left and threaded a square ball across the box, but Messi could not get on the end of it. Moments later, Messi attempts an audacious bicycle kick, but doesn’t get the purchase on it to test Navas.

23' WHAT A SAVE! That is a brilliant stop from Navas! Dest got the better of Kurzawa and drilled an effort at goal, but PSG’s shot-stopper stuck up a hand and palmed it onto the crossbar. That’s a let off for the hosts.

22' Messi slips in Alba, whose cross is blocked. They take the corner short, but Pedri’s delivery is then overhit, and PSG watch it float safely out of play.

20' Well, it has certainly not been a cagey opening 20 minutes. Barca have been on top, though it is the five-time European champions who need to inject the impetus today.

18' Two chances for Barca! First, Mingueza headed wide from a corner, before Dembele again got through. He tries to send a low finish across Navas, but the former Real Madrid goalkeeper gets down to it.

16' Mbappe gets his first sighting of goal and duly takes on a shot, but it just lacks the power to really test Ter Stegen.

14' Barca’s starting XI has an average age of 26 years and 166 days. It is the youngest average age of a Blaugrana team in a Champions League knockout tie since they beat Stuttgart 4-0 in March 2010 under Pep Guardiola.

12' PSG enjoy a sustained spell of pressure but with one stray pass, Barca get away on the counter. Dembele leads the charge but, after isolating a defender one-on-one, lashes his shot way wide.

9' Indeed, it is Messi who takes it. He gets his effort up over the wall, but it does not drop quickly enough, and Navas watches it sail over.

L. Kurzawa

Yellow Card

8' That’s a reckless foul from Kurzawa, who left out a leg that felled Dembele, just under 30 yards from goal. It seems ideal territory for Messi.

6' Today is Messi's 766th game in all competitions for Barcelona. He is one game away from equalling Xavi as the player with the most appearances for the club (767).

5' A first half-opening for Barca. Dembele displays a turn of pace to match Mbappe’s to get in behind PSG’s line. He cuts it back for the onrushing Messi, who is dropping off as a false nine, but the Argentine’s effort is blocked.

4' Another set-piece opportunity for PSG. Paredes again delivers, this time from a free-kick out on the left. His cross finds Gueye, who flicks a header over, though Barca’s marking was almost non-existent.

3' Barca’s issue is that, with their lead, PSG can afford to play on the counter, and utilise Mbappe’s pace to its full effect. The hosts look to do that right way, Mbappe getting down the left and combining with Verratti, whose attempted cross is blocked. Marquinhos connects with the resulting corner, but diverts his header away from goal and out for a goal-kick.

1' KICK-OFF! We are up and running at the Parc des Princes.

The teams are out on the pitch, and kick-off is moments away. Can Barca produce one of the most remarkable Champions League comebacks – again – or will PSG seal their place in the last eight?

Likewise, there is just the one alteration from Barca’s team in the first leg, as Ronald Koeman replaces Gerard Pique with Mingueza. That means Messi, who netted the opener before PSG ran riot, starts up front.

TEAM NEWS – BARCELONA SUBSTITUTES: Neto, Riqui Puig, Inaki Pena, Junior Firpo, Miralem Pjanic, Trincao, Konrad De la Fuente, Matheus Fernandes, Samuel Umtiti, Martin Braithwaite.

TEAM NEWS – BARCELONA (4-3-3): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Sergino Dest, Oscar Mingueza, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele.

Mauricio Pochettino is still without Neymar, who has not been passed fit to face his former club. There is just one change from the team that started at Camp Nou 20 days ago, with Moise Kean, who scored in the first leg, out after testing positive for coronavirus. Draxler is his replacement.

TEAM NEWS – PSG SUBSTITUTES: Pablo Sarabia, Abdou Diallo, Ander Herrera, Colin Dagba, Angel Di Maria, Danilo Pereira, Edouard Michut, Rafinha, Mitchel Bakker, Timothee Pembele.

TEAM NEWS – PSG (4-3-3): Keylor Navas; Alessandro Florenzi, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa; Idrissa Gueye, Leandro Paredes, Marco Verratti; Julian Draxler, Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappe.

Barca, of course, are no strangers to mounting a famous comeback against PSG, though that was four years ago, with the backing of a full Camp Nou. This time around, they are at an empty Parc des Princes, and have already conceded four away goals, meaning a 4-0 win is the lowest margin of victory which can see them progress.

PSG have one foot into the quarter-finals thanks to their superb, Kylian Mbappe-inspired display in the first leg – the France sensation scoring a wonderful hat-trick to help last season’s finalists to a 4-1 triumph at Camp Nou.

Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona in the Champions League!

PSG v Barcelona Live Commentary, 10/03/2021

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