The Catalans secured an astonishing 6-1 win at Camp Nou to knock out Paris Saint-Germain and keep their Champions League hopes alive
"If Paris Saint-Germain scored four, we can score six." That is what Luis Enrique said in the pre-match press conference ahead of this match and his team did exactly that to produce perhaps the greatest comeback in football history.
The Barcelona boss was written off and called every name under the sun after the Catalans' capitulation in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. Since that 4-0 loss, he has announced that he will not continue in the summer and in many ways, the pressure was off.
Could Barca really do it? The Blaugrana beat Sporting Gijon 6-1 last Wednesday and then thrashed Celta Vigo 5-0 at the weekend. Paris Saint-Germain would be a different test, but belief was building. "Yes we can," the supporters sang on Saturday.
And yes they did. Luis Suarez scored inside three minutes to give Barca a dream start and an own goal from Layvin Kurzawa before half-time made it 2-0 at the break. The comeback was on. And when Lionel Messi added another from the penalty spot four minutes after the interval, it looked like Barca would go on to achieve a historic turnaround.
But then PSG scored. Edinson Cavani's fine finish meant it was now 5-3 on aggregate, but Barca needed three because of the away goal. The Uruguayan's strike knocked the stuffing out of the Catalans for a while - but they never stopped believing.
Perhaps Luis Enrique's words were ringing in their ears. "If PSG scored four, we can score six." Now they needed to do just that, but time was running out and when Neymar hammered home a fantastic free-kick with two minutes left, Barca still had to convert twice more.
Suarez then earned a penalty in the final minute, which Neymar netted. PSG complained, but to no avail and Barca threw everything at the French champions through five minutes of added time as even Marc-Andre ter Stegen piled forward.
But then PSG scored. Edinson Cavani's fine finish meant it was now 5-3 on aggregate, but Barca needed three because of the away goal. The Uruguayan's strike knocked the stuffing out of the Catalans for a while - but they never stopped believing.
Perhaps Luis Enrique's words were ringing in their ears. "If PSG scored four, we can score six." Now they needed to do just that, but time was running out and when Neymar hammered home a fantastic free-kick with two minutes left, Barca still had to convert twice more.
Suarez then earned a penalty in the final minute, which Neymar netted. PSG complained, but to no avail and Barca threw everything at the French champions through five minutes of added time as even Marc-Andre ter Stegen piled forward.
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