PSG 4-0 Barcelona, Benfica 1-0 Borussia Dortmund: Champions League as it happened
The French champions welcome Luis Enrique's side to Parc des Princes.
- Barcelona suffer their joint-heaviest defeat in European competition in their 118-year history after hammering in the French capital.
- Angel di Maria scored two wonderful long range efforts on his 29th birthday.
- Julian Draxler on the score sheet on his European debut for PSG.
- Edinson Cavani rounded off the scoring with his strike after 71 minutes.
- Benfica 1-0 Borussia Dortmund: Kostas Mitroglou scores game's only goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing from the penalty spot.
A wretched night for Barcelona draws to a close. Their 4-0 loss to PSG tonight is their joint-heaviest defeat in European competition in their long 118-year history. If they are to fight back in the second leg, they will have to become the first side in Champions League history to come back from a 4-0 deficit. Good luck with that.
What has happened to Barcelona tonight? Meunier brilliantly side steps Neymar well in his own half, at least 75 yards away from ter Stegen's goal. The Belgian strides forward unchallenged with no Barca player showing the slightest interest in closing him down. He reaches the edge of the D and slides an easy ball through for Cavani whose run wasn't followed and he produces another superb finish, drilling into the far corner.
Meanwhile in Lisbon, Benfica took the lead thanks to Fulham legend Kostas Mitroglu, who was on the scene to convert Luisao's knockdown from close range.
Dortmund had the chance moments ago to pull level from the penalty spot but Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has just missed! Woeful effort from the Gabon international; he was leaning back as he strolled up to the spot and skied it well over the bar.
That is outrageous from Di Maria! Receiving the ball 25 yards out from goal, he takes a touch before fooling Iniesta with a superb body swerve, one that also sends Busquets off in the wrong direction. Having moved the ball onto his left, Di Maria bends an outstanding effort into the far corner, perfectly placed past ter Stegen.
The build-up play to that wasn't bad either. It started from Trapp's goal kick, with Rabiot and Draxler doing superbly well in moving it up field.
Barcelona almost have one back! It is sublime from Neymar, who plays a neat one-two with Suarez out on the left flank before cutting menacingly across the field, drawing PSG players in. He spots the run of Gomes who has got in behind Kurzawa down the inside right and slides the ball into him, but the Portuguese can't finish.
Team news: PSG
The trio of Marco Verratti, Kevin Trapp and Thomas Meunier all returned at the weekend in the comprehensive 3-0 win over Bordeaux and are all in contention to start tonight. Javier Pastore is also expected to feature. Unai Emery said of the Argentine on Monday:
Pastore? He is a lot better and trained with the squad this weekend, and he will train with us today. He needs to get his match fitness up to play a full 90 minutes. He is a quality player and can bring a lot to the team. We will decide today if he will be in the squad for Tuesday's match.
Valentines Day? Never mind that. 14 February marks the return of the Uefa Champions League and it is back tonight with perhaps the biggest fixture of the round of 16. Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and La Liga champions Barcelona are both stuttering in their attempts to defend their respective domestic crowns but European glory remains firmly within their sights.
Unai Emery was the man brought in to specifically that for the French giants following his successes with Sevilla. Halting Barcelona, who have won their last three games against tonight's opposition, would be a significant statement of intent,
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