Two years after being humiliated by Barcelona in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain turned the tables on the five-time champions with a relentless display of skill, energy and determination in the their round of 16 (first leg) Champions League match.
Angel Di Maria scored two superb goals and top scorer Edinson Cavani grabbed his 34th of a prolific season, with both players scoring on their birthdays as PSG took down Barcelona 4-0 in Paris on Tuesday.
Newly-signed winger Julian Draxler got the other one as PSG's irrepressible front trio – a mixture of constant movement, power and pace – tormented Barca.
We couldn’t have imagined a better night. Winning 4-0 against Barcelona on the day of my birthday is incredible. It was the perfect match.Angel Di Maria
Barcelona has grown accustomed to handing out football lessons, thrashing PSG 5-1 on aggregate when they met in the quarterfinals two years ago, but this was a PSG masterclass.
Dreams of a sixth European crown should be put firmly on hold, because Barcelona has a massive task ahead in the second leg on 8 March.
In Tuesday's other match, German side Borussia Dortmund missed several chances and a second-half penalty in a 1-0 defeat to Benfica.
That result won't grab the headlines like this emphatic result – one that sends a clear message that PSG is a serious contender this year.
Di Maria, totally out of form for much of the season, celebrated his 29th birthday in style, rifling in an 18th-minute free kick and then skipping past two weak challenges before curling in a superb second from 25 meters (yards) out, 10 minutes after the break.
Continuing his fine form since joining from Wolfsburg last month, Draxler smacked in the second goal in the 40th minute.
Cavani, celebrating his 30th birthday, drilled home the fourth in the 72nd minute.
(With inputs from AP)
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