Dazzling Barcola, decisive Mbappé, Vitinha in charge… Discover the Parisians’ notes

Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the last four of the C1 by beating FC Barcelona on home turf on Tuesday evening.

Paris Saint-Germain produced a top performance to win at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on Tuesday April 16 against FC Barcelona (4-1). Beaten on their lawn in the first leg (2-3), the Parisians were carried by a spinning Bradley Barcola and another high-level performance from Vitinha in midfield. Kylian Mbappé scored a decisive double.

Gianluigi Donnarumma: 5.5/10

The Italian goalkeeper did not have much work, being able to do almost nothing on the only Barcelona goal, scored from close range by Raphinha (12th). But he made an important save on a strike from Lewandowski while the Parisians led 3-1 (73rd). He was wasteful in his restarts, exuding a certain nervousness each time he was pressed, even returning several balls directly to the feet of the Barcelona players (45th + 3, 65th). He could also have caused a penalty on a bad exit (85th) if Lewandowski was not offside.

Achraf Hakimi: 6/10

Less prominent offensively than his counterpart on the left, Nuno Mendes, the Moroccan defended better by containing Raphinha, except on the Barcelona goal where he was beaten in a duel that was certainly very difficult to defend (12th). Without being brilliant, he made himself useful in keeping the ball, bringing the extra in the midfield more often than on his wing. He almost deceived Ter Stegen with a floating long shot after returning from the locker room (48th) and launched the counter which resulted in the fourth Parisian goal (89th).

Marquinhos: 7/10

He played his role as captain, like a capital intervention in front of Ferran Torres, to clear the ball after a save from Donnarumma (73rd). He covered the depth well and brought a serenity which the Parisians had sorely lacked in the first leg.

Lucas Hernandez: 6/10

Much less feverish than on the way out, he embodied the aggressiveness and diligence of the Parisians. Always glued to Lewandowski’s coattails (5th), the French defender performed his duty accurately during the majority of the match, winning many duels. He stayed too far away from Lewandowski only once, which the Pole almost took advantage of by hitting on goal (73rd), and lost a dangerous ball at the end of the match (88th).

Nuno Mendes: 5.5/10

Completely overwhelmed by Lamine Yamal on the Barcelona goal (12th), the Portuguese full-back made up for it by beating the Barcelona nugget to serve Barcola in depth, following the action of the expulsion of Ronald Araujo (29th). He delivered some nice crosses as usual, like for Démbélé at the end of the first period (45th+3).

Vitinha: 7.5/10

Less omnipresent in the conservation because better accompanied in the midfield, he was decisive around the Barça area. He timed well to shift Barcola to the first Parisian goal (40th), then scored the second with a dazzling cross shot from a corner played behind (54th). Perhaps he should have been quicker to cover Nuno Mendes, or closer to him, on the Barcelona goal (12th).

Fabian Ruiz: 6/10

As in the first leg, the Spanish midfielder was not the most prominent, but he was valuable with his movements, like his split with Barcola (26th) which was ultimately in vain, like many his offensive actions. He misses an opportunity on a nice shift from Mbappé (52nd). Warned for an involuntary hand in Pedri’s face (45th) and replaced by Marco Asensio in the 77th.

Warren Zaire-Emery: 5/10

The Parisian “titi” brought the expected intensity. Active in recovery at the cost of a great burst of energy (34th) and always seeking to play forward at the start of the match, he gradually faded away as the match progressed. Less prominent offensively than his midfield friends. Replaced by Manuel Ugarte in the 80th.

Ousmane Dembélé: 7.5/10

Always as valuable in his role as dynamiter, he relentlessly hit (6th, 8th, 37th) with waste in the last pass. But he brought his incessant activity to fruition by taking Barcola’s cross perfectly to equalize (40th), before being the victim of Joao Cancelo’s tackle which provoked the penalty (59th).

Kylian Mbappé: 7/10

He qualified his team by converting a penalty (60th), before scoring the last Parisian goal (89th) despite a first head-to-head loss in front of Ter Stegen. Long deprived of spaces and used against purpose, in pivot (10th) or even in the air (17th, 28th), the PSG center forward was altruistic and fair in his choices. He shifted his partners into good positions several times (52nd).

Bradley Barcola: 8/10

After waking up Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg, he carried the team from the kick-off despite an almost systematic double take by the Blaugranas (25th). He overtakes Ronald Araujo and causes the foul which earns the central defender a red card (29th), before serving Dembélé with a magnificent cross for the equalizer (40th). The only downside is that he somewhat forgets to follow Ferran Torres on a dangerous free kick (63rd). Replaced by Kang-In Lee in the 77th.