The forward was locked down by Jules Kounde as the Catalans won a roller-coaster first leg at Parc des Princes
Everything seemed set up for a signature Kylian Mbappe performance. Parc des Princes with a European giant visiting, a Champions League semi-final spot on the line. And with the Frenchman soon to leave his hometown club, Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona could have been the start of a fairy-tale ending for French football’s biggest star.
The reality was different. Mbappe was held mostly quiet all evening, and had very little impact as Barca came from behind to beat the Parisians 3-2. Raphinha, instead, was the star man, scoring twice for the visitors while causing constant chaos with the same sort of electric pace and trickery associated with Mbappe.
Raphinha gave Barca the lead in the first half, and then found the equaliser after a blistering PSG turnaround shortly after the break. Andreas Christensen rounded off the roller-coaster, freezing Gianluigi Donnarumma off a corner to give Barca a narrow advantage heading into the second leg.
Mbappe, meanwhile, will need to deliver away from home. He doesn’t have long left in a PSG shirt, and an obligatory Ligue 1 title doesn’t feel like a proper way to go out from a player who simply has to win more to secure his Parisian legacy.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Parc des Princes…
WINNER: Raphinha
Raphinha’s Barcelona career has been rather mixed so far, with the Brazilian not finding the kind of consistency to justify his hefty price tag. Against PSG, though, he looked to be worth every penny.
Barca’s first goal came from him, a neat finish after Lamine Yamal’s cross deflected kindly onto his right boot. He provided the second, too, steering Pedri’s wonderful dink over the back-line into the bottom corner. There were other moments, too, key bursts of pace and the odd important block or tackle.
Raphinha’s future remains a topic of debate in Catalunya, as the Blaugrana need to sell this summer to try to revive their dire financial situation, and the Brazilian is one of the few assets they can afford to move who might also fetch a solid return.
His recent run of form, which now constitutes four goals and three assists in his last seven games, could be valuable on multiple fronts. Either Barca get more for a player they are comfortable parting with, or they finally get the best out of a winger who might have much more to give.
LOSER: Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe is undoubtedly a PSG legend, and probably the club’s greatest-ever player. And yet if he doesn’t bring the Champions League to the French capital before he departs this summer, was any of it truly worth it?
Hhe has come close before, of course, having lost in the final in 2020, while turning in a number of impressive showings in big knockout games. But this year feels like a real chance. The Parisians have a kind draw having been placed on the ‘easier’ side of the bracket, and thus direct path to glory.
But Mbappe couldn’t take advantage. He had his moments, but was mostly poor in key areas. He misplaced passes, snatched at shots, and looked devoid of ideas in one-v-ones against Jules Kounde – who tied him down all evening.
Mbappe will always be valuable thanks to the attention he gets from opposition defenders, and he certainly freed up space for Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola to make an impact. But these are the sorts of contests where superstars show up, and Mbappe didn’t deliver.
A big game in Catalunya awaits, and if Mbappe doesn’t turn up, it will be his last in the Champions League for PSG.
WINNER: Jules Kounde
Kounde certainly has his critics, and with good reason. He, like many of Barca’s key players, have seen their form dip this campaign. But he showed up here, and seemed to relish the challenge of playing against one of his international team-mates. The full-back had Mbappe locked down all evening long, limiting the winger to a peripheral performance in one of the biggest games of the season.
He also provided some handy contributions going forward, and was mostly tidy in possession to help Barca spring a few promising counter-attacks. There remain questions as to his best position, or whether he can stretch out that form across an entire campaign. Still, he looked every bit the top-tier defender so many have billed him as on Wednesday.
WINNER: Xavi’s subs
The first six months of Xavi’s season were miserable. The Blaugrana weren’t picking up points with any sort of regularity, while the manager had to watch Real Madrid and Girona slowly pull away at the top fo La Liga. An early Copa del Rey exit and poor showings in Europe effectively left him with no choice but to announce his pending resignation.
But in recent weeks, things have changed. Xavi’s side have looked a more fluid outfit since the manager announced his intention to leave, and are playing with the kind of freedom that defined their title-winning run last season.
And it seems to have made the manager’s job easier, too. Xavi has made all of the right decisions in recent weeks – and his calls were no different here. He brought the returning Pedri on at the right time, introduced Christensen to grab a key goal, and even got a gutsy cameo out of Fermin Lopez. In knockout football, those fine margins make all the difference. This, therefore, was one of his best nights at the helm.
LOSER: Gianluigi Donnarumma
What a nightmare for Gigi! The Italy goalkeeper has developed as a passer and commander of space in his first season under Luis Enrique, but he is far from error-free. Unfortunatly, that side of his game was on full display here.
Donnarumma misjudged the initial cross in the lead up to Barca’s first; his poor clearance led directly to their second; and he was entirely frozen as Christensen nodded home the visitors’ winner from inside the six-yard box.
He still made a neat save or two – and deserves some credit for at least one timely clearance. Still, this was a game that will be remembered for his mishaps. He’d do well to avoid them in the return leg, especially if PSG are to advance.
WINNER: La Masia
Xavi can be criticised for a number of his managerial decisions, but he deserves nothing but praise for the way he has integrated La Masia’s finest into his Barcelona teame. From day one, he has trusted in youth. First, it was Gavi in a bigger role, then Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal, and, most recently, Pau Cubarsi. Suddenly, this is a very young squad, but one that is supremely talented.
On Wednesday, Cubarsi was excellent throughout, barely putting a foot wrong at the back and pinging the ball around for fun. Yamal played his part, too, stretching the Parisian backline and having a key involvement in Barca’s first goal as the 16-year-old became the youngest player to ever appear in a Champions League quarter-final. Meanwhile, Fermin offered vital minutes from the bench.
Barca’s kids aren’t just alright; they’re far better than that!