2024-04-11 01:50:15
“This poster is studded with stars, both on the pitch and in the stands”shouts the announcer of the Parc des Princes. The opening music of Star Wars resounded through the speaker. Virage Auteuil, where the ultra supporters of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) sit, the tifos follow one another: a text first, in the style of the credits of the saga of Georges Lucas, then a Darth Vader flocked with the crest of the FC Barcelona, before Yoda, the Jedi master, appears – dressed in a Parisian jersey of course – lightsabers in hands and carrying this injunction: “Win for us you must. »
The staging of the reunion between the two European rivals was perfect. In several respects, the scenario of the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League between PSG and Barça, Wednesday April 10, was too, with its share of suspense and twists and turns. The epilogue, a little less. At least for the locals. Final score: 2-3 in favor of the Catalans.
“Obviously, defeat doesn’t make us happy”recognized Parisian coach Luis Enrique, at a press conference at the end of a meeting which took place with reinforced security due to threats from the Islamic State organization. “There were good times, however, he noted. We dominated in the first half, until their first goal which made us doubt. We changed our plans at the break and the match took a different turn, we scored two goals. Then Barcelona continued to play very well. There were strong moments, weak moments, and at the end, the result was not good for us. »
Double for Raphinha
Let’s rewind. First there was, therefore, this start to the game which got off to a good start by the Parisians, without however being really dangerous against the goals. Then came the first shift, at 37e minute, when Raphinha took advantage of a missed exit from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on a cross from Lamine Yamal to give the Blaugranas the advantage (0-1). Stunned but not overwhelmed, the PSG players reversed the trend upon returning from the locker room, finding in Ousmane Dembélé, a former Barcelona player, their providential man. A hook from the right foot, a powerful strike from the left, number 10 brought some color back to the Parc des Princes (1-1, 48e).
Two minutes later, Vitinha increased the score by deceiving Marc-André ter Stegen with an outside foot (2-1, 50e) to the clamor of the public. But the joy will be short-lived. At 62e minute, the approximately 2,000 culers – Barcelona supporters – present at Porte de Saint-Cloud remembered the good memories of their hosts, thanks to Raphina – him again –, magnificently served by Pedri (2-2).
Ousmane Dembélé, too, could have scored his double, but his cross shot ended up on Ter Stegen’s left post (75e). It was a corner from Ilkay Gündogan finding the head of Andreas Christensen which sealed the outcome of the game (2-3, 77e). Parisian attempts to finish at least with a parity score remained in vain.
“This is not the end of the road”
If the Catalans’ coach, the lawn. Choices which allowed the ex-midfielder to put an end to the series of invincibility of the man who was his teammate and his coach at Barça: Luis Enrique’s Paris had not lost since the match against AC Milan (1-2) in the Champions League, November 7, 2023, i.e. twenty-seven matches without defeat.
This Wednesday, however, when the final whistle blew, Xavi already had the lead in the quarter-final second leg, on April 16, at the Lluis-Companys Olympic stadium. “I’m a Blaugrana supporter so I’m happy, but it’s not the end of the road. Even though we won a very important away match, there remains a crucial match on Tuesday in Barcelona., he insisted. Same story with his PSG counterpart. “We could have done better, but now we have to think about what’s nexthammered Luis Enrique. I have no doubt that we can qualify (…) We have six days to prepare. »
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The latter, better than anyone, knows that a “comeback” is always possible. The coach did not forget March 8, 2017, when his FC Barcelona, promised to be eliminated in the round of 16 after a heavy defeat (0-4) in the first leg, finally overthrew PSG (6-1) at the Camp Nou in the second leg. Especially, Xavi reminds us, that this time, “There is only one goal difference, it’s not much in football.”
Atlético Madrid take the lead against Dortmund
In the other quarter-final first leg of the Champions League, this Wednesday April 10, Atlético de Madrid won at the Metropolitano against Borussia Dortmund: 2-1. Diego Simeone’s players scored through Rodrigo De Paul (1-0, 4e) et Samuel Lino (2-0, 32e). Sebastian Haller allowed his team to reduce the gap at the end of the match (2-1, 81e) and the Germans came close to coming back to the score at the last second on a header from Julian Brandt which hit the crossbar (90e+6). “We didn’t manage to equalize, but now we have a result that leaves the door open”, said BVB coach Edin Terzic. The return match is scheduled for Tuesday April 16 in Dortmund. Note that the meeting was also played with a reinforced security system following threats from the Islamic State. As with other competition posters, no incidents have been reported.
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