Kylian Mbappe scored a stunning hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain overcame the absence of Neymar to thrash Barcelona 4-1 in their Champions League last-16 first leg at Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi had put Barca ahead with a penalty in the first half, but Mbappe pulled the French champions level with a classy piece of control and finishing to complete a flowing team move also involving Marco Verratti and Layvin Kurzawa
Mbappe, who had not scored in the Champions League knockouts for two years before Tuesday, smashed PSG into the lead in the 65th minute while Moise Kean took advantage of some woeful Barca marking to head in a third goal for the visitors in the 70th.
The insatiable Mbappe looked hungry for more though and after being denied a third goal of his own by Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, he completed his treble in the 85th minute by curling the ball past the German into the top corner.
Barca overcame a 4-0 defeat to PSG in a last-16 first leg in 2017 by winning the second leg at home 6-1 but the Catalans now face another daunting task in turning this tie around when they visit the Parc des Princes on March 10.
Follow the latest reaction on our live match blog.
Goalscorers for both sides
- GOAL! Kean makes it 3-1
- GOAL! Mbappe, 2-1 PSG
- GOAL! Mbappe brilliantly levels
- GOAL! Messi penalty, 1-0 Barca
It seems like we may be laying it on thick, but even with Barcelona’s recent troubles, Kylian Mbappe has just destroyed one of the top teams in Europe.
And what will Lionel Messi think? Barcelona look as far away from winning the Champions League as ever since 2015, and he may well see playing with Mbappe next season as his best chance of lifting the trophy again.
Mbappe ends the match with a huge smile on his face. He walks off with the match ball and is congratulated by his team-mates. That was the sort of performance that will be talked about for years.
Full-time | Barcelona 1-4 PSG
Barca has been humbled by Kylian Mbappe tonight. What a performance from him, and from PSG. Pochettino got his tactics spot on tonight.
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