Champions League Round-up: Barcelona record earliest exit in 14 years as PSG & Liverpool progress
Messi scored a stunning equaliser but missed a penalty as Barcelona failed to recreate their heroics of 2017. Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)
Barcelona suffered their earliest Champions League elimination in 14 years as they were brushed aside 5-2 on aggregate by last year’s finalists Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
Lionel Messi scored a stunning first-half equaliser but later missed a penalty as the Blaugrana failed to recreate their iconic comeback in the same fixture in 2017.
Then, the Catalans took a 4-0 first-leg deficit back to Camp Nou but ran out 6-1 victors on the night thanks to three goals from the 88th-minute onwards.
There was to be no repeat performance at Parc de Princes, however, despite Ronald Koeman’s side putting in one of their most impressive performances of a disappointing season.
They fell behind to an Mbappé penalty – his fourth of the tie after netting a hat-trick in Barcelona – when Clement Lenglet fouled Mauro Icardi in the penalty area.
Messi levelled up with a thunderbolt from 25 yards nine minutes before the break and had a chance to give them a half-time lead when Layvin Kurzawa brought down Antoine Griezmann in injury time.
Keylor Navas came to the Parisians’ aid, however, as he turned Messi’s firmly-struck penalty onto the bar and it was a blow the visitors wouldn’t recover from.
"I'm very happy because it was a difficult match,” Navas told reporters after the full-time whistle.
“We all wanted to play a great game and make the most of the first leg to qualify. It's always difficult to save a penalty – especially against Messi. It was a really great game from Barça.
“They pressed us the maximum possible. We're very motivated to continue in this competition and with this same spirit. That's what will help us improve to go far."
Elsewhere, Liverpool overcame RB Leipzig 2-0, and 4-0 on aggregate, in the second leg of their tie at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
It was a virtual carbon copy of the first leg at the same location, as the sides were scoreless at the break only for quickfire goals from Mo Salah and Sadio Mané to decide it in Liverpool’s favour.
Leipzig turned on the pressure in the second half and were desperately unluck not to gain a foothold in the tie when Alexander Sorloth crashed a header against the bar.
The tie was ended as a contest shortly afterwards when Salah cut in to sweep past Peter Gulacsi, before sub Divock Origi teed up Mané for a thumping close-range finish.
“The best thing the boys did was that nobody could really see how good Leipzig can be,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said after the game.
“They are a monster, so powerful. You saw their runs in behind, but we defended that really well.”
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann said: "My players are human and they didn't reach their optimal performance levels today, which is why we lost.
“A little disappointment is allowed, but after 20 hours we need to shrug it off and focus on the league and cup."
