Paris Saint Germain have surprisingly thrashed Catalan Giants Barcelona 4-nil in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
Two goals from Angel Di Maria and one apiece from Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani gave Paris Saint-Germain an unexpected and potentially unassailable 4-0 lead against Barcelona in their Champions League round of 16 first leg tie.
The hosts started the match well in Parc des Prince and took control of it gradually. Argentinean winger Ángel Di María scored the first goal for PSG 18 minutes into the first half via a stunning free kick.
Just 5 minutes before the break, Julian Draxler scored with an angled drive. In the second half, Birthday boy Di Maria scored his second goal with a stunning 21 meter strike for PSG.Uruguayan Edinson Cavani made it 4-nil for the hosts with 19 minutes to play. PSG put themselves in a commanding position, while the defeat leaves Barcelona with an almighty task to stay in the competition when they host the French team in the return leg on the 8th of March at Camp Nou.
The result equalled Barca's worst in Europe, last achieved by Bayern Munich at the semifinal stage fours years ago, but could easily have been worse as they were outfought, outrun and outclassed.
Former Real Madrid playmaker Di Maria got his brace on his 29th birthday, the first, through a free kick and he curled home a second in between efforts from Draxler and another birthday boy, 30-year-old Cavani.
Barca were flat from the off, with the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique reduced to bystanders by a lean, focused PSG display.
When the sides reconvene for the second leg at Camp Nou, even their very best may not now be good enough to save the tie.
Unai Emery was without the suspended Thiago Motta and the injured Thiago Silva but saw huge performances in their absence, with Champions League debutant Presnel Kimpembe, Marco Veratti and Adrien Rabiot all rivalling the goal scorers.
The home side took control of proceedings quickly, dictating the tempo and probing at the edges of the Barcelona defence.
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