Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain stuns Barcelona with few players; Dortmund passes Madrid

Barcelona had full control of the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Then a red card in the first half changed everything. PSG rallied from a 1-0 hole and a 4-2 aggregate deficit with four unanswered goals against cash-strapped Barcelona to secure a 4-1 victory. Thanks to an overall advantage of 6-4, they advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

There, PSG will face a Borussia Dortmund team that survived an own goal on Tuesday to pass Atlético Madrid 4-2 (5-4 on aggregate).

Barcelona strikes first and doubles their lead

Barcelona went into Tuesday’s match with a one-goal lead after winning the first leg of the quarter-final 3-2. Twelve minutes later it doubled its lead with Raphinha’s goal past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Then the tone of the match changed and it was a red card.

Ronald Araújo’s red card shifts the advantage to PSG

Around the 29 minute mark, PSG’s Bradley Barcola broke free for a scoring opportunity after a Barcelona turnover in midfield. Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo chased Barcola and pulled him from behind by his right shoulder at the edge of the penalty area to the grass.

The referee whistled a penalty. Officials determined that the contact occurred just outside the penalty area and awarded PSG a free kick instead of a penalty. But they gave Araújo a red card, which resulted in his exclusion. Barcelona would play the last 60 minutes of the match with a man down.

PSG took full advantage.

PSG scores binge and secures place in the semi-finals

Ousmane Dembélé’s subsequent free kick sailed over the net. But he would find the back of the net ten minutes later against his short opponent. After 39 minutes, Dembélé sent a one-timer from the right side of the net after a Barcola cross, leveling the match at 1–1 and reducing Barcelona’s overall lead to 4–3.

It was the second goal of the quarter-final against his former team, after Dembélé equalized the first leg at 1-1.

PSG kept the pressure on from the start of the second half. Fabián Ruiz just missed the right side of the goal on a shot from the penalty area after 52 minutes. But Vitinha scored moments later, sliding the ball from just outside the penalty area past goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.

The goal gave PSG a 2-1 lead and leveled the score at 4-4. Then Barcelona was again doomed to a penalty.

Penalty kick ensures that Mbappé gets the go-ahead

João Cancelo challenged Dembélé on the right side of the penalty area after 58 minutes. He tripped Dembélé, causing him to swing his arms towards the ground and receive another penalty.

This time the penalty was clearly inside the penalty area. PSG were awarded a penalty which Kylian Mbappé sent into the left side of the net past ter Stegen.

The goal gave PSG a 3-1 lead. After trailing 4-2 in the opening minutes of the match, PSG had taken a 5-4 lead.

Mbappe then added an insurance goal after 89 minutes, putting the match out of reach for Barcelona. When it was done, PSG had stunned a Barcelona team that was heading to the semi-finals early on Tuesday.