Xavi gets the better of Luis Enrique as Barcelona edge PSG

PARIS — In per week that has seen some of the finest golf equipment in world soccer dealing with one another and providing some excellent video games, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona didn’t disappoint at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night time.

Without reaching the peak in depth and high quality of Tuesday’s 3-3 draw between Real Madrid and Manchester City, Barça’s 3-2 win was one other rollercoaster of feelings and of domination. But as the Catalans left the stadium and the French capital to move again to organize for the second leg subsequent week, they are going to be the ones feeling boosted, whereas the Parisians will head house with luggage of nervousness.

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Each group had its second, every supervisor had their second, and the sport can simply be summed up as the story of two coaches. PSG boss Luis Enrique was fairly brutal together with his counterpart, Xavi Hernandez, in his pre-match press convention, dissing his former captain’s performances as supervisor in comparison with his personal. But Xavi bought his revenge on the pitch. His plan, utilizing striker Robert Lewandowski as a focus — a job he did marvelously effectively — and Raphinha as a runner off him labored completely.

Since Xavi introduced that he deliberate to depart at the finish of the season, just about every thing has gone proper for Barcelona. His ways work, his group is taking part in nice, and his gamers are totally on board and delivering for him. On Wednesday, after PSG’s storm at the begin of the second half, Barça discovered themselves 2-1 down in the house of three minutes. Xavi rectified issues by bringing on Pedri and switching Raphinha from the left wing to the proper. The affect was fast with a beautiful move from Pedri for the Brazilian to make it 2-2. And to show that every thing goes Xavi’s means, he despatched Andreas Christensen on after 75 minutes and, together with his first contact — a header on a nook — the former Chelsea defender gave Barça the win. The nice Xavi momentum was very a lot on present.

The identical cannot be mentioned about Luis Enrique. Wednesday’s match was PSG’s first defeat in 27 video games — a streak held since the begin of November — however the Paris supervisor must take the blame for this loss. His preliminary plan to start out Marco Asensio as a false 9, regardless of hardly taking part in recently, Lee Kang-In in midfield, and Marquinhos at right-back did not work in any respect. Luis Enrique modified every thing at half-time, bringing Bradley Barcola on for Asensio, having Lucas Hernández and Marquinhos swap in defence, and getting Ousmane Dembélé and Lee to play between the strains. It labored for quarter-hour. PSG took the lead with two nice targets, however it did not final for lengthy sufficient, even when they did hit the woodwork twice.

Xavi gained the tactical battle in the first spherical of this tie. The PSG head coach must discover the proper solutions in the second spherical, and never get nearly every thing unsuitable — as he did on Wednesday.

“I was not surprised by Xavi’s tactical plan,” Luis Enrique mentioned after the sport. “I knew [Barcelona] would play long on Lewandowski to beat our press.”

Hindsight is an excellent factor, but Luis Enrique was incapable of discovering a technique to nullify Barça’s ways.

One of the solutions the PSG boss might want to discover will probably be the best way to get Kylian Mbappé in better positions. Because Wednesday was not his night time. It is uncommon when Mbappé fails to affect a sport however, in opposition to Barcelona, he was spectacularly ineffectual. The Paris born-and-bred celebrity misplaced the ball 13 instances, had three pictures, none on track, solely had one profitable dribble out of 5, and solely gained three duels out of 12. He had lengthy spells in the sport the place he was nameless and, when he was on the ball, he made the unsuitable choices.

Throughout this Champions League marketing campaign, the France captain has been PSG’s foremost man who has made the distinction for his group. His six targets in the competitors have been key to Paris reaching the quarterfinals. He carried his group as a rule however, on Wednesday, he was a hindrance. Mbappé by no means appeared like he was linked to the relaxation of the group. Maybe the incontrovertible fact that he has been taking part in much less recently in the league — like in opposition to Marseille when Luis Enrique took him off after 65 minutes — was an issue fitness-wise on Wednesday?

It’s probably not an excuse for his off show. And when Mbappé will not be having day, PSG really feel it. He scored a hat trick the final time he was in Barcelona with Paris, so possibly it will likely be totally different subsequent week?

Regardless, Mbappé and PSG must do one thing they’ve by no means completed earlier than: Five instances of their historical past, they’ve misplaced the first leg of a Champions League tie and 5 instances they have been knocked out after not having the ability to flip issues round in the second leg. If they wish to attain the semifinals, they must make historical past and do it for the first time on Tuesday in Barcelona. Their personal Remontada, mainly.