PSG dominated Barcelona on Tuesday in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg, as Angel Di Maria scored twice in a 4-0 victory. The French giants, who have had their fair share of trouble with Barca in recent editions of the competition, thoroughly outplayed the Spanish club from start to finish to secure the impressive yet mostly unexpected result.
With its high pressure confusing the Barca defense and its sound marking resulting in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez doing next to nothing, the capital club has one foot in the quarterfinals after securing one of the biggest results in its history.
Here's what you need to know.
First half
The first half (the game, actually) was all PSG. Barcelona didn't look anything like its normal, dangerous, world class self as PSG outclassed the visitors with a very high and aggressive press, time and time again and took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Barcelona were stripped of their usual dominance of possession and did not have a reaction for it as PSG got more and more comfortable as the game wore on.
PSG threatened a handful of times against an uninspired Barca defense, and it was Di Maria who got things going with a brilliant free kick goal on 18 minutes.
Julian Draxler then made it 2-0 late in the first half with a fine strike on the right side of the box, leaving Barcelona stunned.
Julian Draxler then made it 2-0 late in the first half with a fine strike on the right side of the box, leaving Barcelona stunned.
Second half
It was more of the same. PSG knocked on the door often and got another unbelievable goal from Di Maria before the hour mark to make it 3-0.
Edinson Cavani then scored on 70 minutes off a lovely counter attack to complete the dominant scoreline. Oh, and it was Cavani's birthday, too.
Player of the match
It is Di Maria. It was his birthday, and he scored two magical goals that he will never forget.