As the UEFA Champions League draw pairs Paris Saint-Germain with Barcelona once again, fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating a clash that has consistently delivered drama, skill, and unforgettable moments. It marks the second straight champion vs champion contest for the Catalonians as they previously dispatched Scudetto holders Napoli in the previous round. For the Parisians, there is also a sense of familiarity, as they knocked off fellow Spanish side Real Sociedad courtesy of a red-hot Kylian Mbappe in full flow.
The pair have faced off numerous times in the tournament throughout the last decade, with each encounter proving to be a blockbuster affair. Here are the last three times they squared off on the grandest stage in club football.
MSN Too Hot To Handle
This year, online sport betting websites have made the Blaugrana an outsider to lift the famed ‘Big-Eared’ trophy. That was most certainly the case nine years ago when the menacing striker force of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar was at the peak of its powers. The first leg of the 2014/15 quarterfinal at the Parc des Princes saw Barcelona take control with a commanding 3-1 victory, despite an early lead for the hosts through a stunning Zlatan Ibrahimović free-kick. Suárez emerged as the hero for the visitors, netting two goals in a display of skill that left the PSG defence bewildered.
The return leg at the Camp Nou saw Barcelona secure their place in the semi-finals with a convincing 2-0 win, courtesy of goals from Neymar, with the Spaniards capitalising on PSG’s aggressive push for goals. And their run in the tournament didn’t stop there. They went on to eliminate Bayern Munich in the semifinals, before defeating Juventus in Berlin to seal the trophy and complete the treble under current PSG boss Luis Enrique.
The Miracle at the Camp Nou
Perhaps the most memorable encounter between these two sides occurred in the 2016/17 Round of 16, a tie that will forever be etched in the annals of football history. The first leg in Paris was a night of sheer dominance by PSG, who dismantled Barcelona with a stunning 4-0 victory. Angel Di Maria shone brightly, scoring twice, with Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani adding to the tally, leaving Barcelona on the brink of elimination.
However, the second leg at the Camp Nou was nothing short of miraculous. Barcelona pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in football history, winning 6-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate. Sergi Roberto’s last-minute goal completed the impossible, as Barcelona overturned a four-goal deficit for the first time in Champions League history. It looked as though the Parisians might have progressed when Cavani scored an all-important away goal. Somehow, however, with the clock ticking into the 88th minute, the Blaugrana found the three unanswered goals they needed to progress and complete the greatest turnaround in the history of the beautiful game.
Redemption
The 2020/21 quarterfinal tie added a new chapter to this riveting rivalry, with the Parisians finally getting a win against their Spanish rivals and securing redemption for four years prior. The first leg saw PSG deliver a masterclass at the Camp Nou, winning 4-1 thanks to a blistering Mbappe hat trick. This time around, there was to be no miraculous comeback, and a 1-1 draw in Paris sealed PSG’s progression to the final four.
