Barcelona Fans Hail Raphinha, Comeback in UCL QF 1st Leg Win vs. Kylian Mbappé, PSG

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVApril 10, 2024

Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images

Barcelona is in control of their 2024 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal matchup against Paris St-Germain.

The Spanish LaLiga club came into PSG’s Parc des Princes and emerged with a 3-2 victory in Wednesday’s first leg. Raphinha scored a brace with the second one coming on an excellent pass from Pedri, and Andreas Christensen played the role of hero with the winner on a header in the 77th minute.

CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoPICTURE-PERFECT PEDRI PASS! 📸

Raphinha bags his brace in fine fashion! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/nEQ36hDe0K

CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoSUPER SUB ON THE SET PIECE!

Andreas Christensen scores with his FIRST TOUCH of the match ☝️ pic.twitter.com/ANVnleJ0K3

B/R Football @brfootballAndreas Christensen:

75’—subbed on
77’—puts Barcelona ahead

And on his birthday no less 🥳 pic.twitter.com/dQK8YaMRYe

Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha each scored in a two-minute burst in the second half for PSG, but it wasn’t enough to win their home leg.

That means the advantage belongs to Raphinha and Barcelona after a performance that drew plenty of reaction from social media:

B/R Football @brfootballBarcelona go into Kylian Mbappé’s house and win a 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 one in Paris 😏 pic.twitter.com/yf0HvF1GVm

B/R Football @brfootballThe Champions League this week: https://t.co/LCLhw56XKJ

ESPN FC @ESPNFCRaphinha is the first Barcelona player to score multiple goals in a UCL knockout stage game since Lionel Messi in May 2019 🤯

Incredible performance from the Brazilian 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2kTcS9gNmi

Rafael Hernández @RafaelH117Raphinha performed like everyone expected from Mbappe.

Barça Universal @BarcaUniversalRaphinha hit the Neymar celebration at the Parc des Princes. Poetic. pic.twitter.com/ainvsdsv2r

Ben Jacobs @JacobsBenFT: PSG 2 Barcelona 3. Enthralling game. Superb response by PSG to take a 2-1 lead, but even better from Barca to wrestle back control of the tie. Raphinha brace, his first #UCL goals, and Christiansen winner, mean it’s advantage Barca. Mbappe far too quiet for PSG’s liking.🔵🟡 pic.twitter.com/kYfqxRJQSS

sm @TacticoModernoOne day, Raphinha will get the respect he deserves from this fanbase

Ali @Ali400BI severely underestimated our mental level, HOLY. To go from 0-1 up to 2-1 down and then turn it around to 2-3 requires a strong mentality. I’m so proud of everyone, especially Raphinha and Pedri. They turned up when we needed them the most. To the return leg…

FORÇA BARÇA💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/MFDb2R8OlP

Dan Hilton @hiltond13That goal all started with the pass from Cubarsí that bypassed the PSG midfield. Then Lewandowski did well to turn and Lamine Yamal to cross early. Even Raphinha to compose himself and hit it first time. European quality from Barcelona

Domagoj Kostanjšak @DKostanjsakRaphinha delivers once again. Massive goal!

The sequence is something Barcelona have been trying all night: go direct to Lewandowski who needs to retain the ball back to goal, turn and find the wide men in space.

From there, Lamine magic & a bit of luck and voila.

Game on.

TalkFCB © @talkfcb_What a performance from Raphinha 👏👏👏

There was no shortage of storylines in the matchup between these two historic clubs with PSG sitting atop French Ligue 1 and Barcelona in second place in Spanish LaLiga behind only Real Madrid. The visitors also entered with four straight wins, including a victory over Napoli in the Champions League.

This year’s Champions League also represents the final opportunity for Kylian Mbappé to capture the trophy with PSG before he departs this summer. On the other side, Barcelona head coach Xavi could win it for his club before stepping aside after the season.

While both sides created early opportunities in a back-and-forth first half, it was Barcelona that opened the scoring in the 37th minute.

PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma came out to challenge a cross, but it was deflected to a wide-open Raphinha. The forward took full advantage of the golden opportunity and buried the shot into the back of an open net.

CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazo”Smooth as a back of a spoon with the finish!” 🥄

Raphinha finishes off a brilliant Barcelona team move 🤩 pic.twitter.com/LUjCyOzb4u

Still, it was only a matter of time before the home team announced their presence, and announce it they did.

Dembélé unleashed a left-footed rocket through the narrowest of windows for the equalizer against his old club in the 48th minute, and Vitinha made a run into the box and snuck Fabián Ruiz’s assist into the bottom corner of the goal just two minutes later.

CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoOUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ PUNISHES HIS FORMER CLUB 🥶 pic.twitter.com/3WPeLjwIhA

CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoTWO GOALS IN TWO MINUTES! 😱

Vitinha has the Parc des Princes rocking! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/3P4mf0KXhw

It would have been easy for Barcelona to fold and start focusing on the ensuing home leg, but they did the exact opposite.

Pedri dropped an incredible lob pass over Raphinha’s shoulder for a left-footed one-timer to tie the score in the 62nd minute before Christensen came straight off the bench to head in a corner and give the visitors the lead.

PSG responded by forcing the issue and pressing forward, but Barcelona’s defense stood strong against Mbappé and Co. for the remainder to take the lead into Tuesday’s second leg in front of their fans.