Di Maria’s brace helps PSG outplay Barca 4-0 in Champions League

Barcelona breezed into the knockout stage by topping Group C, winning five of the six games they played. Edinson Cavani then sealed a famous win with a powerful fourth.

Paris Saint-Germain director of football Patrick Kluivert has suggested the French champions might consider a move for Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in the future if the Argentina worldwide grows unsettled in Catalonia.

Lionel Messi produced one of the worst performances of his career as Barcelona were thumped by PSG on Tuesday night. In 2004, after losing the first leg of the quarter-finals 4-1, Deportivo La Coruna won the second leg 4-0 in the Riazor. Unai Emery had worked on that – isolating him and depriving him of possession. PSG were better tactically.

The home side was rewarded seven minutes later, though, when di Maria whipped a free kick over the wall into the net. “I don’t think I have to give a huge explanation to Barca fans”. “They have a big attacking potential, work hard in defense and are incredible on the ball”.

Enrique’s future at the Camp Nou beyond the current campaign was already in doubt as his contract expires at the end of the season.

Di Maria warned of his team-mates over celebrating ahead of the second leg, saying the tie was not over. Luis Enrique is taking most of the flack for a terrible performance that saw the Catalans outclassed from start to finish against the French champions.

Barcelona travel to France buoyed by a crushing 6-0 win at Alaves in La Liga at the weekend in which Luis Suarez scored twice.

Indeed, this was Barcelona’s joint-heaviest defeat in the competition (0-4 vs Milan in 1994, Dynamo Kiev in 1997 and Bayern Munich in 2013). Di Maria was the true star of the game, with his two incendiary goals.

PSG reached the semi-finals way back in 1995, and have made the quarters in each of the past four seasons, but it remains to be seen if Emery’s European record will continue in 2017.

A Barca side stuffed with some of the world’s most decorated stars were brushed aside easily as Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani added their names to the scoresheet and the margin might even have been bigger, such was the home side’s control.