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Following highly intensified matches on Tuesday night, fans were hoping for another classic encounter on Wednesday especially when Paris Saint Germain took on FC Barcelona at the Parc De Princes. FC Barcelona faced an uphill task to pull of another Remontada against PSG but this time it would be 10 times harder than in 2017. In the other game of the night, Liverpool's home leg was shifted to Hungary due to German authorities not allowing teams from Germany to travel to England.
We start off from the Marquee fixture in the Round of 16. Three weeks ago, despite taking the lead, Barcelona had to suffer a huge defeat as Kylian Mbappe's sensational Hattrick almost sealed their fate. Knowing they were 4-1 down on away goals, Barcelona needed a perfect start in the first half.
And they did everything they can. In the first half Barcelona managed 10 shots on goal, just 2 less than they had in the whole of 90 minutes in the first leg. Had he been clinical enough, Ousmane Dembele might even had a hattrick himself. Tough times.
After the first few exchanges inside 27 minutes, Clement Lenglet made an unintentionally contact with PSG forward Mauro Icardi which tripped him. After consulting VAR, referee Anthony Taylor pointed to spot and flashed a yellow card for the French International. Kylian Mbappe made no mistake from the spot to give PSG a 5-1 aggregate lead in the 31st minute.
Just when it looked like it was all over for Barcelona, their captain Lionel Messi slammed a rocket of shot from 30 yards out which beated keeper Keylor Navas and found its way into the back of the top left corner to make it 1-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate in the 37th minute.
In sports the question of "What if?" always pops in the minds of fan. This would once again be the case for Barcelona fans and neutral supporters as Lionel Messi missed a great chance to make it 2-1 to Barca from the penalty spot.
Barcelona earned a penalty through Layvin Kurzawa. Ironically he gave the penalty in the first leg as well. This time Navas was able to get something on it,as Messi was denied from the spot. Had that penalty gone in Barcelona would have taken a 2-1 lead into the second half and would be just 2 goals short of taking the game into extra time. There were no goals in the second half as PSG were through 5-2 on aggregate. What If?
In the second game of the night, Liverpool defeated RB Leipzig 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate) as they ensured goals. The two who scored in the first leg, Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane were on the scoresheet again. They had to be patient to get the first goal, just like they did in the first leg. In the 70th minute Mohammed Salah who converted his effort by placing it in the bottom right corner from his left foot.
4 minutes, later Sadio Mane ensured the game was well beyond Leipzig's reach as he was at the right place at the right time to stick out a boot to slam in Origi's low cross. It was a huge relief for Jurgen Klopp's men as they ended a winless run of 2 games.
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