Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain player, celebrates with his teammates after defeating Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on April 16, 2024 | Image source: Reuters
Paris Saint-Germain player Kylian Mbappé scored two goals in the second half to lead his team to a 4-1 victory over Barcelona, which finished with ten men in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, to secure a 6-4 aggregate victory on Tuesday.
Rafinha gave Barcelona the lead in the 12th minute, but their number was reduced to 10 players just before the half-hour mark after the last player, Ronald Araujo, received a red card for a foul on Bradley Barcola.
Former Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembélé scored the equalizer for the visitors in the 40th minute, then Vitinha put the team ahead with a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 54th minute.
Joao Cancelo fouled Dembélé in the 61st minute, awarding a penalty kick that Mbappe executed into the top corner.
While Barcelona tried to find a goal to take the match to extra time, Mbappe took advantage of a counterattack to score from close range and seal his place in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund plans to return against Atletico
Borussia Dortmund qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League with a huge 4-2 victory over its guest Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, recovering from a 2-1 loss in the first leg to win the tie 5-4 on aggregate.
The German team scored two goals in the first half and looked like it would qualify for the semi-finals, but Atletico came back with two goals at the beginning of the second half to put Dortmund to the test before advancing strongly to complete a wonderful comeback.
The match started brightly, and it was only through a last-minute save from Cesar Azpilicueta that midfielder Marcel Sabitzer was able to put the hosts ahead in the third minute as the hosts came out of the blocks.
Julian Brandt equalized for Dortmund on aggregate in the 34th minute, capitalizing on a brilliant pass from Mats Hummels to slot the ball home, and five minutes later Dortmund took the lead in the quarter-final match when Ian Maatsen cut in from the left flank and slotted the ball home. Perfectly placed shot at the foot of the far post.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone made a triple substitution in the second half, and it paid off almost immediately, as Dortmund defender Hummels accidentally turned the ball into his own net in the 49th minute, and substitute Angel Correa put the Spanish team back in front of the tie in the 64th minute. .
However, the home side hit back and striker Niklas Volkrug leveled the score at 4-4 on aggregate with a stunning header from a Sabitzer cross in the 74th minute.
The home fans had barely regained their seats after that goal when Sabitzer emerged on the edge of the penalty area, establishing himself with an excellent first touch before scoring the winner in front of an ecstatic crowd three minutes later.
