PSG vs Barcelona - First Half UEFA Champions League, Quarter Finals, Season 2023 - 2024
Barcelona beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. Raphinha scored a brace before Andreas Christensen sealed the win in Paris but goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha keep PSG in the tie.
Barcelona beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. Raphinha scored a brace before Andreas Christensen sealed the win in Paris but goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha keep PSG in the tie.
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00:00 [Music]
00:07 [Music]
00:14 [Music]
00:21 [Music]
00:28 [Music]
00:35 [Music]
00:42 [Music]
00:47 [Music]
00:54 [Music]
01:01 [Music]
01:08 So Luis Enrique has gone for an attacking lineup tonight.
01:11 He made 11 changes at the weekend and makes 10 of them tonight.
01:14 The survivor is multiple Champions League winner Marco Asensio.
01:18 It's his first start in the competition for Paris Saint-Germain.
01:22 Marquinhos at right back with Hakimi suspended.
01:25 He's a record breaker tonight.
01:27 Ruiz and Boutinia are the midfielders
01:29 and the front four that includes 39 goal Kylian Mbappe, Dembele and Hernandez
01:34 will miss the second leg if they get booked.
01:37 [Music]
01:44 [Music]
01:51 [Music]
01:58 [Music]
01:59 The officials tonight all from the Premier League by the way.
02:02 Anthony Taylor who we know so well the referee, Rob Jones the fourth official,
02:07 Stuart Atwell the VAR, the captains down there Marquinhos and Sergi Roberto.
02:13 [Music]
02:22 So Barcelona are a mix of youth, young and old.
02:25 Exuberance and experience you might say.
02:27 A team getting better as the season goes on.
02:29 16-year-old Lamin Yamal starts up front and 17-year-old Pao Kubasi at the back.
02:35 Frankie de Jong is back after four games out.
02:38 There's a recall two for Ronald Araujo at centre-back.
02:41 Petri and Christensen are both on the bench after injury
02:44 and four Barca starters will miss the second leg if they get booked.
02:49 [Music]
02:56 Final words from Xavi and we're all set in Paris,
02:59 the city of light for this Champions League quarter-final first leg.
03:04 Perisic and Hoops rest on his shoulders.
03:06 Kylian Mbappe, he's been sensational for them in what looks like his final season.
03:10 Barcelona this mix of youth and experience,
03:13 far removed though from the great teams of days past
03:16 but hoping to build another one with some serious young talent at their disposal.
03:21 [Music]
03:25 So we're all set, the perfect spring days become a perfect spring night in Paris.
03:30 The setting couldn't be better and the players out there,
03:34 some of which can take your breath away.
03:36 What about this Lucy, the atmosphere fantastic.
03:38 Yeah, unbelievable and it's a really interesting time.
03:41 I think it's probably going to be a lot closer than most people think
03:43 because both are in good form now recently
03:46 and both have outstanding individuals that can make the difference in a tight game.
03:50 [Music]
03:55 Nuno Mendes down the left-hand side, we expect him to get forward quite a lot.
03:59 It tends to be Hakimi on the other side but he's suspended.
04:02 So Marquinhos over there and Nuno Mendes will have the opportunity
04:07 to try and support Kylian Mbappe down the Paris Saint-Germain left.
04:11 Big night for this fella, Dembele, Ousmane Dembele,
04:14 former Barcelona player and he wins the first free kick tonight.
04:19 Special feel to things here, made better by the Champions League reaching the business end.
04:24 Two European big hitters head-to-head, familiar foes as well.
04:28 14th meeting overall, Barcelona narrowly lead the head-to-head.
04:32 Their miracle 6-1 win from 4-0 down, the historic encounter between them.
04:38 [Music]
04:46 First opportunity tonight for the likes of Marquinhos to make their way into the Barcelona penalty area.
04:52 [Music]
04:59 A little flick on at the near post and that's tied it up for Barcelona by Kubasi.
05:05 What a big night it is for the number 33, he's only 17
05:08 and that's his first defensive involvement back there for the team in yellow.
05:12 Yeah, I mean it's no surprise that he's started, he's probably been the best centre-back
05:16 for Poland in recent games but we knew we'd get a fast start from Paris.
05:20 [Music]
05:30 Some early sorting out here for Anthony Taylor to do.
05:34 Joao Cancelo in the thick of it along with Fabien Ruiz.
05:38 [Music]
05:43 Plenty of pace on the corner and they're dealt with there by Cancelo for Barca.
05:49 [Music]
05:51 And there's Raphinha, tied it up on that side by Lee.
05:55 Luis Enrique made those 11 changes, Barcelona haven't played for a week and a half.
06:00 This game though means everything to the two clubs and the respective managers.
06:04 This half of the Champions League draw gives hope to all of the teams involved
06:09 and will stay across the other match taking place in the quarter-finals of the competition tonight.
06:15 Mbappe, fascinating battle up against Koundé down this side for Kylian Mbappe.
06:22 [Music]
06:30 It's quite interesting, Kassidja Roberto's coming over to the right-hand side to just help out Koundé.
06:37 Give him a mile down that right-hand side just to be wary of Kylian Mbappe.
06:43 [Music]
06:49 Challenge made on Mbappe by Koundé, picked up now by Viteña, spread out to Lee.
06:56 On it goes to Dembele, and a good tackle made over there, well timed by Traoré Cancelo for Barcelona.
07:04 The atmosphere in here is absolutely incredible.
07:08 Interested to see how Xavi, whether he has his team pressed PSG because that's where teams get success.
07:14 But tonight might need to be a little bit conservative to start off with just because of the way that we know PSG will start at home.
07:21 [Music]
07:26 Dembele's had a difficult season in Paris, having joined the club from Barcelona, so let's see what he can do tonight.
07:34 Mbappe, on to Nuno Mendes.
07:36 [Music]
07:42 There's the clearance by the 17-year-old, Pau Kubasi, 15th game this season,
07:48 Champions League debut in the last 16 against Napoli, and there he is again just ahead of Lee to tidy things up for Barcelona.
07:55 [Music]
08:07 Fabian Ruiz, Mbappe, Mendes, up against the 16-year-old, Yamal.
08:17 Mbappe, tries to poke it goalwards but the angle and the situation based on where the Barcelona defenders were, always against him.
08:27 Yeah, there's just enough defenders in front of him, Mbappe, but it's interesting because PSG have started with wide players playing quite wide,
08:34 whether it's a full back on this left-hand side, killing Mbappe inside, but just trying to make the pitch really big, create that space inside.
08:42 That's managed to find its way all the way through to Rafinha, and Donnarumma did remarkably well.
08:48 If he touches Rafinha, he's going to get sent off, but he timed that run perfectly, and that saved the goal.
08:55 Yeah, a big moment, massive moment. Barcelona just being route one.
09:01 Lewandowski just left it, PSG were not prepared for it, and that had to be right, and he got it right.
09:07 He completely committed himself, Donnarumma got something on it.
09:26 Battling for the ball in there is Lee, and then Bittenia, and now here's one of the new players for Paris Saint-Germain, Veraldo.
09:37 Now Dembele.
09:40 Shooting opportunity, and that's taken by Ter Stegen.
09:51 He's a throwback to the time when Barcelona ruled the roost in Champions League terms.
09:57 Great kick given off, and a challenge by Fabian Ruiz on Yamal.
10:02 There's been a couple of times where, in the opening minutes, where Paris have had quick switches of play,
10:08 they obviously see that space, and that Barcelona will be susceptible to that.
10:12 And again, a long one from Ter Stegen.
10:15 Seems to be something they fancy, Gundogan was the player making the move, and the offside flag up here against Barcelona.
10:24 There's Hakimi suspended tonight, will be back though for the second leg in Barcelona.
10:33 History being made with the two young players.
10:35 Yamal, the youngest player to start the Champions League quarter-final, he's still 16,
10:40 and Kovacic, who's at the back, the second youngest.
10:45 Historic night as well for Marquinhos, who becomes the all-time appearance leader for Paris Saint-Germain.
10:50 I think it's 436th game for the club tonight, so he's gone past Jean-Marc Piloger,
10:56 so a special night for the captain of Paris Saint-Germain.
10:59 Yeah, and he's playing right back, they haven't got a natural right back available,
11:02 so Marquinhos is just switching inside there, and just form a back three, I think,
11:06 like you said, allowed Nuno Mendes to get himself forward on the left-hand side.
11:10 And there's been a goal in the other game taking place tonight, Rodrigo de Paul for Atletico Madrid,
11:20 so Spain lead Germany in that one, Atletico Madrid 1-0 Borussia Dortmund.
11:26 Still to get a victor in the quarter-final stage of this competition,
11:31 the two draws last night, both of them excellent in their own way,
11:34 and now the attention switches here to the Parc de France and the Metropolitano in Madrid.
11:40 Swept on by Yamal towards Gundogan,
11:46 and Biraldo across, not the best of touches initially by him, he's only young himself,
11:52 we're talking about the teenagers, he's starting tonight at the age of 20,
11:56 having made his debut in the competition in the previous round.
12:00 Marquinhos, off goes Dembele.
12:08 Kylian Mbappe waiting in the middle, corner.
12:14 Dembele's got down that right-hand side, he'll win the ball back,
12:18 and it's a quick one over the top on that right-hand side,
12:22 it just allows Barcelona to get back and recover, Kubasi does his job in duels.
12:28 The former, both of them rock solid, PSG have all but wrapped up a 12th league title in France,
12:35 unbeaten in 27 in all competitions, Barcelona the second best in Spain,
12:40 but unbeaten in 11 themselves, so confidence won't be an issue in either camp.
12:45 They've been good at defending the corners in the early stages,
12:52 this time Robert Lewandowski getting his head to the ball.
12:56 When Paris have some measured possession, Barcelona are sort of a 4-4-2,
13:01 and they're staying in touch because they can't afford to let this game go like a basketball game,
13:05 because it'll just completely open them up without the face of Mbappe,
13:08 particularly on the left-hand side.
13:10 Mendoza's caught there by Rafinha.
13:20 Dembele seeing plenty of the ball in the opening 10 minutes, down the right-hand side.
13:26 Pulls it back here for Marco Asensio, of course Barcelona know all about him,
13:33 from the classic of the game, the way he's got the ball,
13:36 and he's got a good way of getting it back.
13:38 The ball's been taken away by Mbappe,
13:41 and it's a good chance for Mbappe to get it back,
13:44 but Asensio, of course Barcelona know all about him from the classic rivalry with Real Madrid.
13:52 Dembele had been playing a false nine in a diamond formation,
13:59 but he's gone out wide right, allowing Asensio to play in that nine position,
14:03 but it's quite fluid the way that Paris are playing, there's rotations everywhere.
14:07 Here's Robert Lewandowski, third all-time on the goal-scoring charts,
14:12 only Messi and Ronaldo have more in this competition than him.
14:16 It's fascinating that Barcelona midfield tonight,
14:18 Xavi's had to use 25 different combinations in 43 games.
14:23 It's the third time tonight that he's gone with a trio of Gundogan, Guillaume and Sergi Roberto,
14:28 but they've been in low-key games to this point, so I suppose it's needs must.
14:33 And there's Ronaldinho, by the way, he's played for both clubs,
14:36 and he was given a hero's reception when he walked out to see the PSG supporters
14:41 about half an hour before kick-off.
14:43 Just serenaded him with his song, he enjoyed that.
14:46 Here comes Cancelo for Barcelona.
15:02 Jules Koundé, Yamal.
15:09 Frankie de Jong is back in the team, having missed the last four matches.
15:13 It looked like they might have got more of Raphinha in the ball there,
15:23 but Anthony Taylor didn't see it that way,
15:25 and Bape can now come charging forward, change the angle,
15:28 and then see the shot blocked there by Koundé.
15:35 Dembele lifts it in, and there's time there for Koundé to clear the ball away for Barcelona.
15:41 Raphinha's still down, I'm surprised that Anthony Taylor didn't give a free kick.
15:44 I thought he got way more of the Barca player than the ball.
15:47 Yeah, I think he did, I think he's just trying to let the game flow.
15:50 Anthony Taylor, but I think on first thought, I think he got the man,
15:54 and that's probably going to be a sore one for Raphinha, a little bit wild from Beraldo.
16:00 Well, I say that he got more of Raphinha than the ball, he got none of the ball.
16:05 Yeah, all of Raphinha.
16:07 You can understand why there's complaints on the Barcelona side.
16:12 Don't forget, tomorrow night, the Europa League and the Conference League quarter-finals kick off.
16:21 Every match live, including Liverpool-Atalanta, West Ham's game in Leverkusen,
16:26 and Aston Villa against Lille, covering starts from half-past five on TNT Sports,
16:31 and Discovery Plus, painful one that, for Raphinha.
16:36 Barcelona's first quarter-final in the Champions League since 2020,
16:40 that infamous night when they lost 8-2 behind closed doors
16:44 against the eventual winners Bayern Munich and Lisbon.
16:47 PSG regulars at this stage, but they always seem to find a reason not to win it, don't they?
16:51 Yeah, I mean, quite a lot of people in recent years have called them "cereal bottlers",
16:56 and he will want them to make sure they get past that moment,
17:00 and obviously, the subplot is him back with Barcelona.
17:04 Yeah, the latest in a long line of managers trying to win this elusive trophy for Paris Saint-Germain.
17:09 He won it with Barcelona, and of course he's going to gain hero status if he manages to do it here.
17:16 Special night for him on a personal level.
17:20 The manager, of course, of Barcelona when Xavi was in the team and won the Champions League,
17:25 so there's a lovely connection down there between the two coaches tonight.
17:30 Yeah, I don't think Xavi will be particularly happy,
17:35 not really got that control in midfield that they'd want,
17:38 that's been a chaotic start, but that's what Paris have wanted.
17:42 They've wanted to have the high intensity getting the ball forward,
17:45 and Barcelona are all about passing and keeping the ball and getting the rhythm,
17:49 and it's only in recent minutes that they've done that.
17:52 Cancelo to Gundogan,
17:58 quite got the rhythm yet in central midfield.
18:02 Barcelona, Gundogan who lifted the Champions League last season with Manchester City.
18:07 Just looking at this shape of Paris Saint-Germain, it's more of a lopsided back three really,
18:13 because Nuno Mendes is really high, and then Marquinhos who does play centre-back,
18:17 but predominantly almost in a back three with Giraldo and Lucas Hernandez.
18:21 Yeah, they're quite a high line as well, they're quite comfortable defending space,
18:25 and you've seen Barcelona a couple of times go direct over the top.
18:29 And Baffe building up ahead of Steele.
18:34 Dembele.
18:38 It's another corner.
18:42 [CHEERING]
18:45 I mean, Koundé's got him in the main down this side,
18:50 but then Araujo, so good against Vinicius Junior in La Liga,
18:54 he's got the magic potion to slow him down.
18:56 He comes out when he can to try and double up on Mbappe.
18:59 No surprise there.
19:01 This time to Stegen, nice and calm under the corner.
19:07 Straight away to Stegen, looks to go really early.
19:11 He can do it, but there was Lamar and Rafinha just waiting
19:15 towards the halfway line for a quick getaway.
19:17 Well, there's Xavi, as we mentioned, played under Luis Enrique at Barca,
19:25 won everything with him as a player.
19:27 Times different these days, though.
19:29 All in all, he spent 27 of his 44 years involved in some way
19:34 at Barcelona Football Club.
19:36 They were in the same team for six years at Barca,
19:39 won the title together in the club's centenary year.
19:42 All in all, they played 128 times in the same team,
19:46 the respective coaches down there.
19:48 They're all here tonight, Didier Deschamps.
19:52 I think the local director is going to show you as many people
19:55 as he possibly can.
19:57 It really is the hottest ticket in town,
19:59 and everybody wants to be here this evening.
20:01 Absolutely, and it's a test for you to name every single one of them.
20:07 That's a push by Doraldo on Lewandowski.
20:10 The way that Barcelona are going to get some momentum in this game
20:19 is by keeping the ball.
20:21 I've said it already, if they let it be a transition game,
20:25 then Paris will certainly get the better out of that.
20:28 Lewandowski was in the Bayern team back in 2020,
20:34 Champions League final night, when Bayern beat Paris Saint-Germain.
20:37 Ruffini was making the run in behind,
20:54 but they couldn't get the ball there.
20:55 That's well intercepted, though, by Pitinia.
20:57 And he's powering through here for TSG.
21:00 Now Mbappé pulls it back towards Lee.
21:05 Took a little bit of time to get the ball down,
21:07 and that gave de Jong the chance to hook it away.
21:09 They're so strong when they regain possession.
21:12 Paris, they'll look up, whether it's wide right to Dembele,
21:15 or whether it's into Mbappé or into the space in behind,
21:18 but they raid up the pitch really quickly.
21:21 I mean, the point you'd make is that they've had a lot of the ball so far
21:26 for 18 minutes, Paris Saint-Germain,
21:28 but it's not led to any real discomfort for Marc-André Verstegen,
21:33 the Barcelona goalkeeper, the defensive this point,
21:35 coping pretty well with Mbappé on one side and Dembele on the other.
21:38 Yeah, and Barcelona have struggled defensively.
21:41 They've not really had a fit defensive midfielder
21:44 that's been regular in the team.
21:47 Nuno Mendes.
21:50 Gets through. Koundé couldn't get past Araujo.
21:57 He had to get across, Sharfisch there to close things down.
22:01 Wonderful feat.
22:02 First little cameo we've seen tonight from the 16-year-old Lame and Yamal.
22:07 Now you see him, now you don't. Wonderful.
22:10 Yeah, wonderful feat, but just before that,
22:12 Nuno Mendes gets himself up the pitch,
22:14 Mbappé gives him that room on the left-hand side and goes inside.
22:18 Again, terrific feat.
22:19 Maintains his balance, he just wants that shot on goal,
22:22 but again, Araujo, terrific defender from centre-back.
22:26 Just caught at the end of that.
22:31 So he just needed a moment, the Barcelona centre-back.
22:36 Lewandowski rolling away from Peralda.
22:48 Rafinha, promising for Barcelona.
22:52 Blocked behind for the corner.
22:54 First time they've really put past us together in a situation like that, Barca.
22:59 Yeah, they've tried to raid quickly a couple of times,
23:01 that's the first time they've sort of built through Lewandowski,
23:04 but Rafinha is usually played on the right-hand side,
23:07 but playing on that left-hand side,
23:09 just offers a little bit more, allows Cancelo when he goes inside,
23:12 but allows Cancelo wide.
23:18 Araujo's gone forward, so has Pau Kubasi.
23:22 Ilkay Gundogan has gone out to take the corner.
23:25 Marquinhos was attacking it, that's clean off the line.
23:33 Nuno Mendes, I think it was,
23:35 and then driven inside netting from Yamal.
23:38 Well, they were so close, inches really, Barcelona from taking the lead.
23:45 Donnarumma came out there, and I'm not sure he thought
23:48 that he was going to get first contact.
23:51 It's a terrific set-piece as far as Barcelona are concerned.
23:56 In it goes from Gundogan,
24:07 and he wasn't going to get there again, Donnarumma.
24:09 Gundogan can shoot.
24:13 And now the Italian goalkeeper,
24:15 I'm not sure whether he's going to shout at defenders or himself,
24:18 but he was nowhere near the set-pieces.
24:20 He made a late decision to come for it, didn't he?
24:22 And by the time he had, there's too many bodies in the way,
24:24 and Lewandowski get something on it,
24:26 but Nuno Mendes has been good at the other end of the pitch,
24:29 and his defensive duties there,
24:31 just a little bit of a wobble, just coming from the goalkeeper.
24:35 If there is a question of the Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League,
24:41 it's never the talent, it's never the ability to deliver,
24:44 it's actually doing it when they get to the really serious stages
24:47 of this competition.
24:49 We've seen them so often, many people's favourites to win it,
24:52 only to find a way to lose.
24:54 And you feel the atmosphere inside the stadium tonight,
24:57 the expectation levels around the club,
24:59 and the players have got to deal with that first and foremost.
25:02 Yeah, because the league, the matches in the league,
25:05 do not prepare them for these stages in the Champions League.
25:09 But they've done really well, they did really well against Real Sociedad,
25:12 but obviously Barcelona are a step up from that,
25:15 and it's about getting to that level.
25:18 Mbappe there ahead of Yamal, picked up now by Gundogan.
25:25 Marquinhos.
25:34 Dembele.
25:38 Good tackle over there by Cancelo,
25:40 he's playing Dembele well in the early stages.
25:42 Still on loan from Manchester City, but making progress here.
25:47 He's not managed to get himself forward that many times,
25:51 because he's got defensive duties,
25:53 but Barcelona flood the ball side, so the switch is always on,
25:56 and Mbappe is holding his width, and he's done it a couple of times now.
26:00 Yamal.
26:05 Gundogan.
26:07 Van der Waak.
26:08 Sergio Roberto.
26:10 Rafinha fancies the shot, that's a good save by Donnarumma.
26:14 Plenty of power right along the ground,
26:17 and it was always moving away from the PSG keeper.
26:20 Certainly up for it, Rafinha, making good runs,
26:23 from that left-hand side inside,
26:25 and then getting on the ball in good positions.
26:28 [CHEERING]
26:30 Corner taken by Rafinha towards that mere post,
26:54 headed away by Vitinha, the PSG.
26:57 Barcelona though quickly have it back again.
27:00 It's not a bad ball in either by Rafinha,
27:06 well dealt with by Donnarumma.
27:08 They've got Lewandowski and Araujo waiting for the header.
27:12 Koundé's gone down, Anthony Taylor's stopped it,
27:23 and given a free kick to Barcelona.
27:25 I actually wondered whether a hand had been used in all of that as well.
27:29 It did look like it touched somebody's hand.
27:31 Koundé.
27:32 Actually the Barcelona players that are appealing,
27:36 but you can tell as soon as Barcelona lose it on a set piece,
27:40 they're so aware that they've got to close the ball down really, really quickly
27:43 because of the pace of Mbappe,
27:45 and because they're so out of shape,
27:47 because that's where Paris can hurt you.
27:50 [CROWD CHANTING]
27:52 Every set piece so far though, Darren, has been in swinging.
27:58 They're obviously looking at Donnarumma and thinking,
28:00 can we put pressure on the goalkeeper?
28:02 Two players with Premier League experience sharing a word,
28:15 Rafinha, Gundogan.
28:18 And it goes from Yamal, Gundogan gets on to the end of this.
28:23 Defended in there for Paris Saint-Germain by Fabien Ruiz.
28:30 Just a circle of Barcelona players,
28:33 as soon as they get in the final third on the edge,
28:35 just well aware that what if we lose it, where are we going to go?
28:38 It's 50-50 now in terms of possession,
28:44 which highlights just how Barcelona have taken over
28:48 in the last 10 minutes or so after a bright start from PSG.
28:52 Yeah, and they probably suspected that that would happen,
28:54 they're in the storm, and just by passing the ball,
28:57 you just take the sting out of what Paris have to offer.
29:00 Bayern Munich were the last team to win here in the Champions League.
29:11 It was in the last 16 last season, Nice the only team to win here this season.
29:16 That was back in September.
29:18 Ismael Cancelo's going to hit one, but that's way off target.
29:26 I'll tell you what, Muraldo's struggling with the movement,
29:29 whether it's Rafinha or Lewandowski at centre-back,
29:33 really putting him under pressure.
29:38 Don't forget at the weekend we've got Newcastle against Tottenham
29:41 in the Premier League, 11 o'clock on Saturday,
29:44 TNT Sports 1 and Discovery Plus,
29:46 and some exciting news, TNT Sports and Discovery Plus
29:49 will be home to the Alton Nation series
29:51 in some of the biggest matches in world rugby,
29:53 all 21 games live, kicking off with England against New Zealand
29:57 on 2 November.
29:59 0-0 here, approaching 27 minutes gone
30:03 at a very noisy Parc des Princes.
30:05 Yeah, they were quite passive, I think, Barcelona,
30:07 they were just seeing what Paris had got,
30:09 not conceding in the opening 20 minutes or so,
30:12 and then just easing themselves into the game,
30:15 getting that control of the ball.
30:17 I think the word is, or the words are, Lucy,
30:20 as the season's gone on, they've become efficient and effective,
30:23 Barcelona, and we're seeing that here in Paris tonight.
30:27 Dembele to go at Cancelo again.
30:32 Pitino.
30:35 Mourinho.
30:36 Marquinhos.
30:40 Now the Spaniard Fabian Ruiz.
31:02 Lee out there on the right, supported here by Pitino.
31:05 Little pocket now for Dembele.
31:08 Skipping in down that side for PSG,
31:11 pulling it back towards Mbappe.
31:13 That was good defending in there by the Barcelona captain,
31:17 Sergio Roberto.
31:18 Mbappe. Lee with a shot, good save, Christegen,
31:28 came at him quickly.
31:30 And then Mbappe's gone over,
31:32 and Anthony Taylor I think has spotted an offside.
31:35 So whether that's a foul or not, it's now irrelevant.
31:39 Offside decision against PSG.
31:42 I think it was Cancelo charging in there on Mbappe.
31:45 Yeah, it was offside, but that's a wild challenge from Cancelo.
31:49 Taking a risk, and he dived in just a couple of minutes before that.
31:54 It's part of that attacking phase from Paris,
31:58 and they're quite narrow, Barcelona,
32:00 just letting the wide players come back and defend against Dembele and Mbappe,
32:04 but just need to be careful, Cancelo.
32:06 Just checking for a potential red card here
32:09 for that challenge from Joao Cancelo.
32:12 Stuart Atwell is the video assistant referee.
32:15 He's got David Koot in the room with him,
32:18 and the check is over.
32:20 And you wonder why they can't do it that quickly in the Premier League.
32:22 That's one thing I'm fascinated about tonight,
32:24 watching this group of English officials in a different competition,
32:27 and how they handle the video checks.
32:30 Much better. Much better when it's quicker.
32:32 They've had a look at it, they've communicated it to the referee,
32:35 and like you say, referees that we use in the Premier League,
32:38 and it stops a lot of frustration from managers and players and fans.
32:42 I can guarantee that people at home, having seen how quick that was,
32:46 are going to be saying, "Well, why can't it be that quick when we see the Premier League?"
32:50 [City of London, London]
32:53 Two teams meeting tonight who have played in a major European final before,
33:04 the 1997 Cup Winners' Cup final in Rotterdam.
33:07 Ronaldo, R9, that one scored the winner for Bobby Robson and Barcelona.
33:12 He wasn't even Sir Bobby at that stage.
33:14 Luis Enrique played, as did Pep Guardiola, that night.
33:19 Ludo Mendes giving chase, Koundé gets their first for Barcelona.
33:27 Really nice feel to it.
33:29 Yeah, Asensio playing that false nine and dropping,
33:32 it just means that the back four for Barcelona can't jump,
33:34 because it's too far, so they get a little bit of an overload in central midfield,
33:39 and could work through him if they want.
33:41 [City of London, London]
33:44 Asensio's touchback to Ludo Mendes.
33:51 Vitinha.
33:53 Marquinhos.
33:58 Now Dembele.
34:01 Mbappe.
34:11 [City of London, London]
34:13 A little backheel by Fabio Ruiz, but that was a good tackle in there by Gundawan,
34:17 who can then glide away now for Barcelona,
34:19 and whip it forward towards Rafinha.
34:21 That's fantastic defending though, by Marquinhos.
34:25 Poor ball though by Donnarumma.
34:28 Yamal running in, manages to deliver the ball as well to...
34:34 That far side where Gundawan is.
34:39 I must say, Donnarumma's not giving anybody any confidence in the stadium right now.
34:43 Absolutely, he's just a bit of edginess to the back four because of him and his decision making,
34:48 and he's just inviting the pressure from Barcelona.
34:51 It should have been an easy pass to a Paris player.
34:53 I must say, having watched the way that Paul Kubasi started,
34:58 left side centre-back for Barcelona at 17,
35:01 he looks like he's playing his 200th match in the Champions League tonight.
35:05 Yeah, I mean, he's completely composed beyond his years.
35:08 He can pass, you know, that pass forward.
35:10 He knows when a short pass is needed, he can play that diagonal as well.
35:14 And he's coped with some really big hitters in recent months,
35:17 playing centre-back, Ossiment.
35:19 You know, in the league as well, I think he was brilliant against Atlético Madrid.
35:24 Robert Lewandowski, he was caught, but Yamal can come forward now for Barcelona.
35:31 The options for him are on the other side of the pitch, really.
35:37 Frankie de Jong.
35:38 Gundogan.
35:52 Lewandowski.
35:56 Lewandowski.
35:57 De Jong finding Rafinha, onto Lewandowski.
36:10 And then Rafinha carried on running and Marquinhos had come across there.
36:15 And there's a bit of miscommunication involving Luka Hernandez.
36:18 It's going to lead to a Barcelona corner.
36:20 And that's not the first time that it's not quite been well-oiled back there for PSG.
36:25 Yeah, there's a bit of uncertainty.
36:28 It's coming from the goalkeeper, a bit of communication there,
36:31 but it's just giving Barcelona that encouragement.
36:34 Just checking here for a potential penalty.
36:45 That's why it's been stopped.
36:47 Checking for a handball, which has gone from white to yellow,
36:50 which makes it slightly more serious on the screen.
36:53 Now it's gone green, check over.
36:55 Didn't take long again.
36:56 So Gundogan out to take the corner.
36:59 Let's see whether Donnarumma can deal with this one any better.
37:01 Short it goes. Rafinha running in, good block.
37:07 A lot of bodies between him and the goal,
37:09 but that was fizzed in perfectly by Gundogan.
37:12 Yeah, I think it was Kundiga that got in the way of it, but well worked.
37:15 Asensio leading the counter.
37:19 You've got to do that, Darren.
37:21 You have to do that when Paris are in that position
37:24 and Dembele has gone off right and Vapé has gone off left.
37:27 You have to make that challenge.
37:29 Yeah, Sergio Roberto gets the yellow.
37:30 He now misses the second leg.
37:33 He's one of four starters tonight for Barcelona
37:36 who is facing that consequence should he get booked.
37:39 Araujo, De Jong and Yamal are the others.
37:42 And there are players on the bench.
37:43 I think between them there are 11 players,
37:45 a yellow card away from missing the second leg in Barcelona.
37:48 One thing we do know now is the captain won't be available next week.
37:52 Yeah, it'll certainly change the face of the tie
37:55 depending on who misses next week.
37:57 But Barcelona in the last part of this first half
38:01 have been a lot more comfortable when they keep the ball.
38:03 That's the way they like to play.
38:05 I think they took the strain from the intensity of Paris at the start,
38:09 but they've sort of settled into this game.
38:11 Take it down there by Araujo.
38:20 It was met straight away by Dembele.
38:22 Gundogan starting to control things in central midfield.
38:29 His stature in the game is growing all the time.
38:33 2-0 now to Atletico Madrid.
38:48 They've made a really good start.
38:50 Lino with the second, adding to Rodrigo de Paul's first.
38:54 There's a South American flavour in the Metropolitano tonight.
38:57 A good start tonight for Simeone and Atletico Madrid.
39:02 0-0 here.
39:04 Ten minutes to play in this first half.
39:07 They're actually coping well, Barcelona, with Paris.
39:13 When they've got major possession and they're attacking
39:16 and not at speed and they defend well as a group.
39:19 Just closing on the ball.
39:20 There's Luis Figo.
39:23 Once at Barcelona, then of course of Real Madrid,
39:27 which didn't go down well.
39:30 It's an understatement.
39:32 When you think of some of the players who have played for both clubs,
39:40 Messi, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimović,
39:42 15 I think in total have worn both shirts.
39:45 Lamar with a lovely ball.
39:47 Donnarumma got there.
39:48 Is it going to fall here? Yes, it is.
39:50 For Barcelona and Rafinha.
39:57 Donnarumma got the faintest of touches,
39:59 but he couldn't divert the ball away.
40:01 And Rafinha rattles home his seventh goal of the season.
40:05 The first time he's ever scored in a Champions League.
40:08 And that's a massive goal in Paris for Barcelona.
40:11 Yes, just indecision.
40:12 And I think he's been threatening that, hasn't he, Barcelona?
40:15 Paris have had that indecision when the ball enters the penalty box.
40:19 But they face the press so well.
40:20 Lewandowski's done brilliant.
40:21 Ball into his feet, opens up,
40:23 and then all of a sudden Paris defenders are facing their own goal.
40:27 Lewandowski causes a problem.
40:28 Donnarumma decides to come out, but didn't get enough on it.
40:31 You have to completely take everything out there.
40:34 Just allowed Rafinha even a little bit of time to think about it.
40:37 Rafinha, great little ball.
40:39 So worried about Lewandowski.
40:42 It's made some decisions, Donnarumma,
40:45 in this game so far that have not been particularly positive.
40:49 And now they find themselves one nil down.
40:51 Well, he managed to change his feet really well there, Rafinha.
40:54 Really good finish.
40:55 All eyes on Donnarumma.
40:58 And Barcelona have the lead against the Paris Saint-Germain team,
41:02 who have only lost seven of their last 73 home matches in Europe.
41:07 With seven and a half minutes to play in a fascinating first half.
41:11 It's the team that's won the competition on multiple occasions.
41:14 The team that's a mixture of young and old tonight.
41:17 Youth and experience.
41:19 And it's a Brazilian touch that has them ahead in the City of Light in the Champions League.
41:24 Tell you what, the initial ball came from Kovacic.
41:27 De Jong had dropped to face the press,
41:29 and he just passed that ball through to Lewandowski.
41:31 Gets himself in really good positions.
41:33 Takes out about five or six Paris players,
41:35 and all of a sudden they're on the back foot.
41:37 Really well-worked goal.
41:39 Geraldo struggling against Lewandowski.
41:45 Kovacic running into Lee.
41:47 A little bit of space on that side for Dembele.
41:50 Notice that Cancelo quickly got back into a defensive position,
41:53 just to cover the gap, though.
41:55 Cancelo's mostly staying intact with that back four,
42:01 not raiding up that left-hand side where we normally see him.
42:04 Lee.
42:09 Important defending there by Araujo,
42:12 because Asensio was trying to run in behind him.
42:16 I think one thing that stood out for me tonight
42:18 in the opening 38 and a half minutes
42:20 is just how calm Barcelona have been.
42:22 Absolutely right, Darren.
42:26 I think they coped with that initial onslaught
42:28 that we knew that Paris would bring at the start of the game,
42:30 and it's slowly just got a foothold in the game,
42:33 and now they're really confident.
42:35 Lovely ball there by De Jong to get Koundé coming forward.
42:37 Here's Yamal.
42:38 De Jong.
42:44 (CROWD CHANTING)
42:46 It's worth pointing out as well
42:59 that Barcelona have struggled away in the Champions League.
43:02 They've only won three of their last 11 away from Barcelona
43:05 in this competition,
43:07 but that's not the way they played tonight.
43:09 The only blemish, the yellow card to Sergi Roberto,
43:12 which means he's going to miss the second leg,
43:14 but the goal they scored tonight, absolutely priceless.
43:17 Yamal lifts it in towards Lewandowski.
43:21 He's got support on that side from João Cancelo.
43:24 (CROWD CHANTING)
43:26 Yeah, they've got complete control over this bit of the game now.
43:47 Barcelona, after they scored the goal...
43:51 I think they feel as well that they can play through
43:55 if that's what they want to do,
43:57 but I get the impression Barcelona think they're susceptible
43:59 to that ball over the top.
44:01 They've tried it quite a few times in the first half.
44:04 Yeah, the goal came from that straight pass,
44:07 straight-line run and spacing behind.
44:09 Here they come again, Barcelona.
44:13 That's not the best of finishes, though, from Cancelo.
44:18 Yeah, broad and forward, that's how we usually see them,
44:21 and it's just about decision-making at the end.
44:24 I think Gunder Wander had his hands in the air, passed to me.
44:27 Doraldo to Mbappe, it's been quiet first half.
44:46 Huchman Dembele.
44:48 Lee.
44:52 Dembele sliding through, angle tight for Mbappe.
45:07 Kubasi standing his ground in there, didn't dive in,
45:14 patient defending from the teenager, Marquinhos.
45:18 No way through at the moment.
45:30 Here's Dembele, he runs into that yellow wall
45:33 and Cancelo can bring it away, and Mbappe makes the challenge,
45:36 and then De Jong, nice and calm, back out to Cancelo on that side.
45:40 Yeah, defended it into the box really well, just collapsing into that area.
45:43 Lost it now, Dembele sticks it back,
45:46 but there's Koundé nice and calm, Gunder Wander,
45:48 now the counter-attack's on through Yamal,
45:51 and just for a moment they've got a three on three,
45:54 PSG players flooding back,
45:56 and Doraldo made a decent challenge for the home team.
45:59 The thing about the likes of Mbappe,
46:06 you know that he'll probably lose nine out of ten duels,
46:09 it's that one duel that he wins that changes the game,
46:12 they've got to try and stop that service.
46:14 Surely Mbappe's offside, the flag's down for now,
46:16 and he's in for Paris Saint-Germain, and now it's going to go up.
46:19 I'll tell you what, a recovery tackle there from Kubasic,
46:24 looks like a 25-year-old playing.
46:27 Well, stood offside and never really got back on, did he, Kylian Mbappe?
46:31 Don't forget the Road to London highlights show is tonight,
46:33 half past ten, and you can see that on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.
46:39 I mean, make no bones about it, Lucy,
46:47 you have to see more in the second half from Paris Saint-Germain,
46:50 I mean, this has not been a good first half performance from them
46:53 by any stretch, and Mbappe in particular has been so quiet.
46:56 Here's Dembele.
46:58 Lee, Araujo's header.
47:08 Fabien Ruiz, challenged then by Yamal.
47:11 I think it's a lot to do with how Barcelona have played, to be honest,
47:15 as well, they started the game well, Paris,
47:18 and then they've just faded out of this first half,
47:20 just because Barcelona have got control over the ball,
47:23 they choose the right areas to attack, Lewandowski's been brilliant,
47:26 Rafinha's been brilliant, and they've defended well.
47:29 At this stage, I'd say that I feel like I've seen this PSG performance
47:34 before in the Champions League.
47:36 De Jong in on Dembele, Lewandowski comes away with the ball.
47:44 Yamal.
47:48 Looking for Sergi Roberto, can flick in the cross,
47:53 Lewandowski trying to find room to shoot, and the flag up.
47:56 And a free kick given to PSG.
47:58 A brilliant No. 9 performance so far from Lewandowski,
48:01 he uses his body so well, his movement, his intelligence,
48:04 holding it up well,
48:06 Geraldo is struggling when he's in duels with him.
48:09 He might be 35, but he's got 53 in 86 games for Barcelona,
48:14 20 this season.
48:16 And he's always been very, very good in this competition,
48:20 whether it be for Bayern Munich or for Barcelona.
48:23 Outstanding player, Robert Lewandowski.
48:26 Yeah, and I think, along with the rest of his team,
48:28 had a slow start to the season,
48:30 but he talked about the training up in intensity,
48:33 and since Xavi said he was leaving,
48:35 it's like he's galvanised this group of players.
48:38 Into two minutes, about a time.
48:43 Asensio, haven't seen much of him in the first half, in possession.
48:48 Vitinha.
48:57 Lee.
49:02 Good.
49:04 Good.
49:07 Good.
49:10 Good.
49:13 It's Nuno Mendes. It's an interesting ball in.
49:18 And Gundogan's going to tidy things up to de Jong.
49:21 It was Kibasi who came running across in time.
49:23 He's tackled really well on Marco Asensio.
49:26 And now Rafinha's going to have a run down that side
49:28 against Luka Hernandez.
49:30 It's an interesting race, and Rafinha's got there first.
49:32 Now then, who can get there and support him?
49:34 Pulls it back. Here comes Yamal.
49:36 Barcelona with the yellow shirts coming in,
49:38 and that's not quite good enough.
49:40 That's a waste. Rafinha did absolutely brilliantly.
49:44 He looked up and realised he was the only one there,
49:46 so put it into space for Yamal.
49:48 Maybe that, a quick side foot across,
49:50 but in the end, it was the wrong option.
49:53 Tell you what, Kibasi's had some half back there, hasn't he?
49:56 Hasn't given the ball away.
49:58 He's been outstanding defensively.
50:00 Yamal steps in, does his defensive shift.
50:07 Gundogan.
50:09 All that experience in central midfield of the German international.
50:13 What do I have to say about Barcelona's academy?
50:16 It certainly prepares players to play at this level.
50:19 You look at Yamal, Kibasi, they're ready to play.
50:22 It doesn't matter how old they are.
50:24 I wonder whether the PSG hierarchy
50:26 might want to check some passports at half-time,
50:28 just to check that they really are 16 and 17, respectively.
50:33 Rafinha's got the goal, though, tonight.
50:35 The big moment belongs to him,
50:37 the first time he's scored in the Champions League.
50:40 And that's half-time.
50:48 They'll be fishing.