Paris Saint-Germain are into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2021 after pulling off both a comeback on the night and on aggregate against Barcelona, evoking memories of 2017’s La Remontada – just the other way around.
Prior to kick-off, Barcelona led 3-2 from the first leg and came onto the pitch against a backdrop of noise from just over 50,000 fans inside the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, delighted to witness the first Champions League quarter-final tie being played in the city since 2019.
But PSG’s thumping 4-1 win left those supporters distraught and the French contingent elated.
These are two of the biggest names in world football, clubs who have spent insane amounts of money in the transfer market. But youth was the order of the day from the off.
◉ 18-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery
◉ 17-year-old Pau Cubarsí
◉ 16-year-old Lamine YamalThree players aged 18 or under are starting a Champions League knockout stage match for the first time in the competition’s history. #UCL pic.twitter.com/bILAUNPAPz
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 16, 2024
It took just 12 minutes for Barcelona to break the deadlock and extend their aggregate advantage. Raphinha scored the goal after Lamine Yamal breezed past Nuno Mendes like he wasn’t there.
Barcelona get off to a flyer against Paris Saint-Germain 💥
Lamine Yamal does Nuno Mendes for pace to set up Raphinha, who just like in the first leg, scores in the second! #UCL
📺 @tntsports and @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/gefkJMou44
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2024
The watching world went crazy for the 16-year-old.
🔵🔴✨ Lamine Yamal with a fantastic assist for Barça… 16 years old, by the way. pic.twitter.com/75cH9Ma9pE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 16, 2024
The Lamine Yamal conundrum. Yeah he’s 16, yeah you don’t want him to play too many minutes, but he’s ALREADY one of the best players in the world. How do you bench one of the best players in the world?
— Bd@irB@ll (@Bd_irB_ll) April 16, 2024
Lamine Yamal is younger than my YouTube channel.
— John Green (@sportswithjohn) April 16, 2024
A record breaker, no less.
Lamine Yamal becomes the youngest ever player (16 years & 283 days) to assist a goal in the Champions League Knockout stages.
Incredible talent. 💫💫💫 pic.twitter.com/nP9Ce2a3Fh
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 16, 2024
As an aside, it was also a major landmark goal for Barcelona in the Champions League.
Raphinha has scored Barça’s…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at 90min EN…