Barcelona vs PSG live updates: Late Mbappe goals win thrilling Champions League tie after Araujo and Xavi red cards

After the first leg in Paris, things suddenly seemed to be clicking for Barca. They went into this game unbeaten in 13 matches — a run that started when Xavi said he would leave in the summer — and with a feeling that their season could have an unexpectedly positive end.

Instead, Xavi and Barca are looking at one of the worst nights in their European history. That it was PSG, many fans’ ‘bete noir’, will make it even tougher to take. Dembele returning to twist the knife at the club where he felt so badly treated added further still to the pain.

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This was a huge night for Barcelona and their coach, a huge chance to make their first Champions League semi-final since 2018-19. Xavi had talked pre-game about how his team had to use their heads and make the most of the opportunity.

That looked far away when the coach was red-carded for furious protests midway through the second half — right in the middle of the period when his team were self-destructing and throwing away their chances of progress.

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Remember when Barcelona scored the first goal of the second leg, Montjuic erupting with unbridled joy, as Xavi’s team went 4-2 up on aggregate? Did that happen tonight?

In a game of dramatic twists and cruel turns, it once looked as if 16-year-old Yamal would be the star.

Xavi had to sacrifice somebody following Araujo’s red, and given Yamal’s age and relative lack of experience, his withdrawal was probably the sensible choice.

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Newcastle United feels a long time ago now for Barcola. In the group stages, as PSG laboured to a belated (if controversial) point against Newcastle at the Parc des Princes, Barcola took much of the flak.

The 21-year-old winger missed a few chances in that game and was subsequently criticised. But since then, Luis Enrique has kept the faith in him and now, in the biggest game of the season, Barcola has delivered.

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Paris Saint-Germain have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for only the fourth time, also doing so in 1995, 2020 and 2021.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have now lost six of their last eight UCL quarter-final ties. They have reached the semis only once in the past nine seasons.

Not the kind he would have wanted though. Ronald Araujo’s red card in the 29th minute was Barcelona’s earliest ever sending off in the Champions League.

Well, that's one down and two to go for Ligue Un.

The French top-flight agreed to give all it's clubs involved in European action the weekend off from domestic fixtures to ensure they'd be fresh for their games this week.

And on the evidence from Montjuic, it worked a treat.

So that's PSG through to the Champions League quarter-finals. On Thursday in the Europa League quarters, Lille host Aston Villa (1-2) while Marseille welcome Benfica (1-2).

Jules Koundé spoke to Canal+ after the match: “Playing 10 against 11 for 70 minutes against a side of this calibre, with the players and the team that they have, is difficult. We tried, we had chances, but everything is harder when you go a man down.”

On whether his side deserved more from both legs: “It’s not about deserving it or not, it comes down to details. We produced a great performance in the first leg, a wonderful victory. We started well this evening, but we win and lose as a team.”

There was more from PSG boss Luis Enrique in his chat with TNT Sports, and it made for interesting viewing.

First he was asked about his side's chances of going all the way in this year's Champions League:

💬 "Of course, that's our spirit. That's our hope. We can feel in our stadium the feeling of every supporter thinking we are the right commitment, the right character and we are going to fight to go to the final."

And then he was asked if tonight was PSG's La Remontada - their repeat of Barcelona's stunning second-leg comeback in the 2017 Champions League round of 16.

At this point, Luis Enrique got a little more caught up in his return to the club he excelled at as both a manager and player:

💬 "I hope so. It was very difficult for me in the mental way and in my feelings, playing against Barca. Very, very difficult."

The Athletic has analysed an extraordinary Champions League quarter-final, diving into:

• Why was Araujo sent off?
• How did Xavi and Barcelona implode?
• Was Yamal the right player to take off after the red card?
• What does victory mean for PSG?

Follow the link below to check out our breakdown!

PSG boss and former Barcelona hero Luis Enrique has been talking to TNT Sports about his team's performance and his return to Catalunya.

And having watched his side turn round a 3-2 first-leg deficit with a 4-1 win tonight, he was beaming:

💬 "I was very proud. You have to hope for the day that changes everything and it was today. We are very happy. Excited. I think only our supporters thought we had that opportunity, the chance to go through to the next phase. And we are there.

"We started in an unbelievable rhythm, taking control of the ball. The first time they go to our box, they score. For me it was very unfair but we didn't change the way we play. The (red) of Araujo, I didn't see but it was (then) more difficult for Barca and better for us."

Raphinha was very good in that quarter-final and arguably didn't deserve to end up on the losing side.

That will be scant consolation for the Barcelona forward right now, but may help in the weeks and months to come.

PSG goalscorer Vitinha also spoke to Canal+ after the win: “It’s incredible. It’s difficult to put into words. I’ve been dreaming of this all week, being able to score, helping the side, reaching the semi-finals. We’re in the semis, we have to highlight that. We have to give that the credit it deserves. We’re so happy. Our supporters believed in us, and I think they were the only ones that did.

“Even when we conceded the opener, we didn’t give up. It’s difficult mentally, but the coach told us that the game would be won with our heads. Going two goals down on aggregate is difficult mentally, but we remained calm. We went looking for goals, and we produced a fantastic performance.”

Ousmane Dembélé spoke to Canal+ after PSG's win: “Everyone believed (we could qualify), even if we lost the first leg 3-2. We didn’t give up, we knew we were going to score goals here. A big shift from the whole team.

"We worked the entire week, tactically, with the coach. His tactics were perfect. Even though we conceded the first goal, we didn’t let our heads drop. We continued to believe.”