Barcelona took a massive win over the French giants this past week in the coveted Champions League competition. The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious competitions, hosting teams from across the world. PSG, the French league winners, faced off against the Spanish La Liga champions.
Although Kylian Mbappe tried his hardest, his speed and technique was no match for the organized Barca squad.
Barcelona Score Late Winner to Beat French PSG Team
?? FULL-TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 2-3 FC Barcelona
It ends in defeat tonight in the first leg but still plenty to play for in the return match#PSGFCB I 2-3 pic.twitter.com/Kdac1t9qZg
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 10, 2024
Although Christensen typically comes off the bench, that doesn’t make him any less of an impactful player. After all, substitutes are called ‘super subs’ for a reason. Christensen came into the tense Champions League match late in the game and scored the winning goal off a pinpoint accurate cross.
Earlier in the game, Raphinha did his job – and more – to score twice for the Spanish La Liga team. The talented midfielder scored the opening goal towards halftime. And at the 60th-minute mark, he doubled his goal tally by finishing a fantastic volley.
PSG can’t argue against the fact they came out on the back foot. It seemed as though the entire team, including Kylian Mbappe, were sleepwalking. However, they snapped back into action after the first goal in the game.
Despite being the team’s highest goal scorer and most notable player, it wasn’t Mbappe who saved PSG. Dembele scored, taking revenge on his old club, and Vitinha put the French team in charge of the match with the second goal.
For around 30 minutes of the match, Paris Saint Germain and Barca were tied 2-2 in a tense battle. Then, Christensen rose above the rest and finished the floating cross with a powerful header.
Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League
Before Christensen ended Kylian Mbappe’s dream of winning the first leg of the Champions League, the French winners had a stellar record in the competition. Paris Saint Germain had a 27-game unbeaten streak in this worldwide tournament they planned to uphold.
Plus, their star striker has had an incredible record of his own. In all Champions League appearances, Mbappe has scored 46 goals in just 70 UEFA games. After first coming onto the world stage with AS Monaco 5 years ago, he has only gotten better. His goal-scoring, speed, and intelligence are on par with the best in the world.
Now, Kylian Mbappe and his squad will have to score even more goals next Tuesday to win on aggregate. Even though they have an uphill battle, many pundits still believe they can reach the semi-final.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.