Champions League: The 5 Things We Learned As PSG Boot Barcelona Out of Competition in Style

• PSG booked a spot in the UCL semi-final for the first time since 2021
• The Parisians staged a remarkable Remontada to stun FC Barcelona
• Sports Brief looks at the 5 things we learned as PSG reached the last four

Barcelona seemed to have a comfortable two-goal aggregate lead and were maintaining control on their home turf in Spain until chaos ensued.

The pivotal moment came when Barca's centre-back Ronald Araujo was shown a red card, shifting the momentum in their Champions League quarter-final tie against PSG.

The Parisians, trailing 3-2 from the first leg, capitalised on the numerical advantage to stage a remarkable comeback, ultimately winning the tie 6-4 on aggregate.

Kylian Mbappe's brace, a stunning long-range strike from Vitinha, and a goal from Ousmane Dembele, facing his former club, sent Barcelona into a tailspin and knocked them out of the competition, Eurosport reports.

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Sports Brief dissects the five key takeaways from this rollercoaster encounter, which saw PSG advance to the semi-finals at the expense of the Catalan giants.

1. Ronald Araujo's red card costs Barcelona

The Catalan giants had the tie under complete control, having won the first leg and also leading early on thanks to a Raphinha strike, but the rush decision to pull down the sprightly Bradley Barcola cost his side.

Araujo was deemed to have denied the Frenchman a chance at goal by referee Istvan Kovacs, who did not hesitate to brandish a red card at the Uruguayan.

In his absence, La Blaugrana conceded four goals, with Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha, and a double from Kylian Mbappe doing the damage against Xavi Hernandez's men.

2. Xavi's changes worsened the woes

Araujo's red card disrupted Barcelona's strategy, prompting head coach Xavi Hernandez to substitute Lamine Yamal, a key offensive asset.

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While the decision to bolster the defence with Inigo Martinez seemed logical, it proved flawed in hindsight.

Yamal had played a crucial role in creating Raphinha's goal, and his substitution weakened the team's attacking prowess.

Unlike in the first leg, where Xavi's substitutions contributed to victory, this time they proved ineffective, exacerbating Barcelona's elimination from the tournament.

3. Ousmane Dembele has a tough skin

Barcelona fans promised to treat Ousmane Dembele like Luis Figo following his passionate celebration in the first leg.

Upon his return to Catalonia with PSG, Dembele endured jeers throughout the match.

Despite the hostility, he showcased mental resilience, delivering one of his finest performances since joining PSG.

He scored a goal and earned the man-of-the-match award. Additionally, he appeared to revel in Barca's elimination, further fueling tensions between him and his former club's supporters.

4. Kylian Mbappe is made for big occasions

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In crucial moments, big players rise to the occasion, and Kylian Mbappe exemplified this perfectly.

Although not performing at his peak, the Frenchman seized the opportunity when it mattered most, delivering two decisive goals.

His first, a powerful penalty, tilted the tie in PSG's favour, and his brace ultimately dashed Barcelona's hopes of reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

5. Luis Enrique schools Barcelona

In 2015, Luis Enrique guided Barcelona to their last Champions League triumph, with Xavi playing a pivotal role in midfield under his management.

Fast-forward to 2024, and their paths intersect again, this time in a tactical battle. Xavi's Barcelona landed the maiden blow in the first leg, 3-2, but Luis Enrique's PSG orchestrated a stunning Remontada to win 4-1 in the reverse fixture and 6-4 on aggregate.

Over the two legs, 'Lucho' tactically outmanoeuvred his protege, leading Barcelona to their lowest possession stats since 2003–04, according to Opta statistics.

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Xavi blames Romanian referee for UCL elimination

In a previous publication, Sports Brief reported that FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has blamed Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs for his team's Champions League exit.

After being sent off for protesting, Xavi expressed frustration over the referee's decisions, claiming they were responsible for their defeat and elimination.

"It's a shame our Champions League journey ended due to the referee's error," lamented Xavi, emphasising the referee's performance as disastrous.

He concluded, "The referee ruined everything. There's no point in discussing the game further."