Barcelona shell-shocked after PSG hammering

TIL Desk Sports/ Barcelona coach Luis Enrique admitted his side’s Champions League hopes are all but over for this season after they were outclassed 4-0 by a brilliant Paris Saint-Germain in their last 16 first leg on Tuesday. Angel Di Maria scored twice for the French champions on his 29th birthday at the Parc des Princes, while Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani — on his 30th birthday — were also on target in a stunning home performance.

The result leaves PSG on the brink of a place in the quarter-finals for the fifth season in succession, while Barcelona are staring at their earliest exit since losing to Liverpool in the last 16 in 2007. It was the Catalans’ worst night in Europe since their 7-0 aggregate mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich in the 2013 semi-finals, and no team has ever gone through after losing 4-0 in the first leg of a European tie.

“It is difficult to explain. They were superior to us from the start,” admitted Luis Enrique.”There was a 15-minute spell in the first half in which we were on top, but otherwise PSG attacked quickly on the break and created a lot of chances.”It was a disastrous night for us. They were completely superior. There is not much more to say.”