Barcelona - Sana
Kylian Mbappe, the Paris Saint-Germain striker, scored three goals to overcome the absence of Neymar and defeat Barcelona 4-1 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 and approach the quarter-finals today.
Lionel Messi put Barcelona ahead with a penalty kick in the first half, but Mbappe equalized for the French champion after a wonderful control of the ball and a powerful shot from close range to complete a wonderful move for the team that also included Marco Verratti and Lavin Kurzawa.
Mbappe, who had not scored in the Champions League knockout rounds for two years before today, put Saint-Germain ahead in the 65th minute, while Moise Kane took advantage of poor oversight and positioning Barcelona defenders to make it 3-2 with a header in the 70th minute.
Mbappe seemed insatiable and hungry for more goals after Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen deprived him of his third goal, but he completed his personal hat-trick in the 85th minute with a well-rounded shot that hit the top corner of the goal away from the German goalkeeper.
Barcelona surpassed its 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the round of 16 in 2017 by winning 6-1 at home in the return, but the Catalan club will face another arduous task when it visits the Parc des Princes on the tenth of next month.