2/10 For Andre Gomes – The Best And The Worst Rated Barcelona Players vs PSG

The La Liga outfit was well-beaten 2-nil in each half at the hands of the Ligue 1 champions on Tuesday night, with them now needing more than a miraculous comeback at Camp Nou on March 8 to overcome the 4-nil deficit in the return leg.

Nobody saw the onslaught that was to come as PSG looked to have been dealt a huge blow with an injury to their skipper Thiago Silva, with a 21-year-old Presnel Kimpembe taking his place and making his Champions League debut in Unai Emery’s lineup, but that meant nothing when Di Maria put the hosts ahead from a free kick 19 minutes into the game.

Barcelona were expected to reply, but none was forthcoming, only for Draxler to make it 2-nil for the French giants after Rabiot dispossessed Messi, feeding Verratti who wasted no time laying a great pass into the path of the German winger.

The 2nd half saw the visitors fail to sparkle either, and Di Maria capitalised on their complacent defending, curling a beautiful effort from the edge of the box beyond Ter Stegen just 10 minutes after the restart.

Yet, PSG wouldn’t relent as they were willing to wreck more havoc, limiting Barcelona’s chances at the other end while increasing theirs in the Spaniards’ attacking third.

Ligue 1’s highest goalscorer Edinson Cavani then added gloss to the scoreline with a fine finish after a brilliant run from Meunier all the way from right back teed him up.

4-nil! 70 minutes

The closest Barcelona came was striking the bar, with Umtiti heading the ball to the upright after Pique directed a corner to him off his head from the far post.

The heavy defeat has without a doubt left the Catalans at the very brink of Champions League elimination, and it’s just needless playing the 2nd leg considering their pathetic form this term.

Here is how they fared at the Parc des Princes:

Ter Stegen

While he could have done more with Draxler’s goal, the German actually made the scoreline even more “respectable”.

Rating: 5/10

Sergi Roberto

Well turned in, out, over and all around by Draxler at right back.

A night he wouldn’t forget.

Rating: 3/10

Pique

Had some vital blocks but struggled to help build play from the back.

Rating: 4/10

Umtiti

Found things hard against Cavani at times and struck the bar when presented with the chance to grab a consolatory goal that might have offered a faint hope.

Rating: 4/10

Alba

Looked completely like a schoolboy as PSG ran riot.

Rating: 3/10

Iniesta

Lost the battle against Verratti and definitely showed why he is now way past his prime.

Rating: 4/10

Andre Gomes

Barcelona might have been better off with 9 outfield players.

Rating: 2/10

Busquets

Out-performed by Rabiot in the middle of the pack and found Verratti too solid to stand against.

In him, Barcelona’s first line of defence broke down too easily.

Rating: 3/10

Messi

For the first time in like forever, the Argentine had no single touch in the opposition box.

Poor passes and possession losing all over the place.

Rating: 2/10

Suarez

Completely starved of service and was surprisingly not the better of the 2 Uruguayan strikers on the pitch.

Rating : 3/10

Neymar

Was always trying to make things happen, with his dribbles and runs at PSG defence, but he wasn’t able to get it done all by himself.

Rating: 6/10

SUBSTITUTES

 

Rafinha

Wasn’t able to inspire proceedings.

Rating: 4/10

Rakitic

A too little too late sub.

Rating: 4/10