Xavi will get the higher of Luis Enrique as Barcelona edge PSG

PARIS — In per week that has seen among the finest golf equipment in world soccer dealing with one another and providing some excellent video games, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona didn’t disappoint on the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night time.

With out reaching the peak in depth and high quality of Tuesday’s 3-3 draw between Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis, Barça’s 3-2 win was one other rollercoaster of feelings and of domination. However because the Catalans left the stadium and the French capital to move again to arrange for the second leg subsequent week, they would be the ones feeling boosted, whereas the Parisians will head dwelling with baggage of hysteria.

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Every staff had its second, every supervisor had their second, and the sport can simply be summed up as the story of two coaches. PSG boss Luis Enrique was fairly brutal along with his counterpart, Xavi Hernandez, in his pre-match press convention, dissing his former captain’s performances as supervisor in comparison with his personal. However Xavi bought his revenge on the pitch. His plan, utilizing striker Robert Lewandowski as a focus — a job he did marvelously nicely — and Raphinha as a runner off him labored completely.

Since Xavi introduced that he deliberate to depart on the finish of the season, just about every thing has gone proper for Barcelona. His ways work, his staff is enjoying nice, and his gamers are totally on board and delivering for him. On Wednesday, after PSG’s storm at the beginning of the second half, Barça discovered themselves 2-1 down within the area of three minutes. Xavi rectified issues by bringing on Pedri and switching Raphinha from the left wing to the appropriate. The impression was quick with a beautiful cross from Pedri for the Brazilian to make it 2-2. And to show that every thing goes Xavi’s means, he despatched Andreas Christensen on after 75 minutes and, along with his first contact — a header on a nook — the previous Chelsea defender gave Barça the win. The good Xavi momentum was very a lot on present.

The identical cannot be stated about Luis Enrique. Wednesday’s match was PSG’s first defeat in 27 video games — a streak held for the reason that begin of November — however the Paris supervisor should take the blame for this loss. His preliminary plan to begin Marco Asensio as a false 9, regardless of hardly enjoying recently, Lee Kang-In in midfield, and Marquinhos at right-back did not work in any respect. Luis Enrique modified every thing at half-time, bringing Bradley Barcola on for Asensio, having Lucas Hernández and Marquinhos change in defence, and getting Ousmane Dembélé and Lee to play between the strains. It labored for quarter-hour. PSG took the lead with two nice objectives, nevertheless it did not final for lengthy sufficient, even when they did hit the woodwork twice.

Xavi received the tactical battle within the first spherical of this tie. The PSG head coach should discover the appropriate solutions within the second spherical, and never get virtually every thing flawed — as he did on Wednesday.

“I used to be not shocked by Xavi’s tactical plan,” Luis Enrique stated after the sport. “I knew [Barcelona] would play lengthy on Lewandowski to beat our press.”

Hindsight is an excellent factor, but Luis Enrique was incapable of discovering a strategy to nullify Barça’s ways.

One of many solutions the PSG boss might want to discover can be the best way to get Kylian Mbappé in higher positions. As a result of Wednesday was not his night time. It’s uncommon when Mbappé fails to impression a sport however, in opposition to Barcelona, he was spectacularly ineffectual. The Paris born-and-bred celebrity misplaced the ball 13 occasions, had three pictures, none on the right track, solely had one profitable dribble out of 5, and solely received three duels out of 12. He had lengthy spells within the sport the place he was nameless and, when he was on the ball, he made the flawed choices.

All through this Champions League marketing campaign, the France captain has been PSG’s predominant man who has made the distinction for his staff. His six objectives within the competitors had been key to Paris reaching the quarterfinals. He carried his staff most of the time however, on Wednesday, he was a hindrance. Mbappé by no means appeared like he was linked to the remainder of the staff. Possibly the truth that he has been enjoying much less recently within the league — like in opposition to Marseille when Luis Enrique took him off after 65 minutes — was an issue fitness-wise on Wednesday?

It is not likely an excuse for his off show. And when Mbappé isn’t having day, PSG really feel it. He scored a hat trick the final time he was in Barcelona with Paris, so possibly will probably be totally different subsequent week?

Regardless, Mbappé and PSG should do one thing they’ve by no means finished earlier than: 5 occasions of their historical past, they’ve misplaced the primary leg of a Champions League tie and 5 occasions they had been knocked out after not having the ability to flip issues round within the second leg. In the event that they need to attain the semifinals, they should make historical past and do it for the primary time on Tuesday in Barcelona. Their very own Remontada, mainly.