How it happened: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Barcelona

Good evening and welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the first leg of the last-16 Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona from the French capital.


These two teams last met at the quarter-final stage of the 2014-15 competition, and it was Barcelona that won 5-1 on aggregate during that particular campaign.

The only time that PSG have eliminated Barcelona in the European Cup was during the 1994-95 season. Since then, the Spanish outfit have won their two knockout encounters with the French giants.

The reverse match at Camp Nou will take place on March 8.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

PSG: Trapp; Meunier, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Verratti, Rabiot, Matuidi; Draxler, Cavani, Di Maria


BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Umtiti, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Gomes; Neymar, Suarez, Messi






So there we have it. What a night! PSG record a 4-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League. It is a quite staggering night for the French champions, who are fully deserving of this result. Thanks for joining us once again for the action. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!



90 min+5 FULL-TIME: PSG 4-0 Barcelona

90 min+4 Handball shout from Neymar, but the referee is not interested and PSG break away once again. That should be just about that for this match. What a night for these PSG supporters.

90 min+3 Possession football for Barcelona as we enter the final stages of this match.


90 min+2 We are into the second of four additional minutes here.

90 min+1 Neymar has the chance to threaten from a free kick outside the PSG box, but the Brazilian's effort is straight into the stands. That just about sums up the away side's night in Paris.

89 min Barcelona have not wanted it enough tonight. Messi has been very disappointing, while Luis Suarez has not offered anywhere near enough in the final third. Defensively, they have been just awful.

87 min PSG SUB! Pastore replaces Draxler for the home side.

86 min Neymar has been the pick of Barcelona's players tonight, but the Brazilian has been let down by his teammates and Barcelona's Champions League journey might well be over this season.

84 min POST! Barcelona come close to an away goal as Umtiti rises inside the PSG box, but the centre-back's header hits the post! What a chance to get on the scoresheet tonight.

82 min Barcelona are the team on the front foot as things stand, but they have still only managed one shot on target, which is incredible. PSG are fill value for their four-goal lead at this stage of the match.

80 min CHANCE! Neymar fires wide of the PSG post after being set-up by Alba. Much better from Barcelona, but moments like that have been few and far between in tonight's match.

78 min Bit of possession for Barcelona in the last few minutes, but they are not really going anywhere with it. PSG are comfortable as they sit deep and wait for their next chance to counter-attack.

76 min Little under 15 minutes of football remaining in Paris and PSG are threatening to score a fifth goal as they continue to break forward. Barcelona have been absolutely awful tonight. Awful.

74 min BOOKING! Rafinha (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Nkunku.

72 min What an amazing night in Paris. PSG have their fourth of the night and Cavani is on the scoresheet as the club's leading scorer this season collects a super pass from Meunier before smashing the ball past Ter Stegen. The defending from Barcelona was, once again, absolutely awful here.

71 min GOAL! PSG 4-0 Barcelona (Cavani)

72 min Barcelona just cannot deal with PSG's threat in the final third and it appears that the French champions are going to score every time they break forward. Down the other end, Messi tries to find Neymar with a clever pass, but Trapp is on hand to collect. Still 3-0 to the home side.

70 min PSG SUB! Nkunku replaces Verratti, who limps off the field.

68 min Verratti has a problem for PSG, and it looks like cramp!

67 min CHANCE! Lucas breaks through for PSG and has options left and right, but the attacker shoots and his effort is straight at the goalkeeper. Should have done much better there!

65 min Little over 25 minutes of this first leg remaining and Barcelona really need to score if they are to stand a chance of turning this tie around on home soil. PSG, meanwhile, will be looking for a fourth, which would surely, surely put this tie to bed. What a night it has been for the French outfit.

63 min BOOKING! Busquets (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Verratti.

62 min PSG SUB! Lucas replaces Di Maria for the home side.

61 min Messi is bundled off the ball just outside the PSG box, but the referee is not interested. More frustration for Barcelona! PSG are preparing to make their first change of the match here.

58 min BARCELONA SUB! Rafinha replaces Gomes in the Barcelona midfield.

56 min Oh my word! PSG lead 3-0! And it is sensational from Di Maria as the Argentine finds a yard of space on the edge of the box before curling one into the far corner. What a wonderful goal.

55 min GOAL! PSG 3-0 Barcelona (Di Maria)

55 min You wonder how long Luis Enrique will leave it before he decides to make a change here. Gomes has been poor for Barcelona tonight, while Roberto is really struggling up against Draxler on the left.

53 min Suarez comes deep to get involved for Barcelona, but the striker cannot lay-off a simple pass and PSG can clear their lines once again. For all PSG's brilliance tonight, one for Barcelona at this stage would place the Spanish outfit in a decent position ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou next month.

50 min Verratti has been absolutely different class for PSG tonight. Barcelona are said to be in the market for the Italian international, and he seems a perfect fit for their midfield. That said, PSG will fight tooth and nail to keep the genius. It is the home side that continue to force the issue as Cavani heads over.

48 min Rabiot has the chance to pick out Marquinhos inside the Barcelona box, but the cross from the Frenchman is just too strong and Barcelona escape another dangerous moment here.

47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will already have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.

46 min RESTART! Barcelona resume the action in Paris...

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with PSG leading Barcelona 2-0 courtesy of goals from Di Maria and Draxler. There is no question that the home side deserve their advantage as well, with Barcelona being dominated from start to finish. This last-16 tie is still far from over, but Barcelona will not want to take a 2-0 deficit into the second leg in Spain next month.


45 min+1 HALF-TIME: PSG 2-0 Barcelona

45 min Barcelona just cannot get hold of Draxler in this match. Arsenal fans will be watching this and thinking 'we might have signed this man'. Draxler and Di Maria have been sensational here.

43 min Barcelona are absolutely shell-shocked at the moment. Luis Enrique looks lost on the touchline as his team concede possession once again. PSG have been utterly brilliant in this first period.

41 min Oh my word! PSG double their lead in Paris as Draxler collects a super pass from Verratti before smashing his effort into the far corner. Messi lost possession in midfield and PSG lead 2-0 here!

40 min GOAL! PSG 2-0 Barcelona (Draxler)

39 min We have not seen an awful lot from Suarez in this first period, but you just know that the centre-forward will pop up at some point, either with a decisive pass or a goal. He will be involved before the night is out, of that I am certain. Not an awful lot to report in the last couple of minutes here.

36 min Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining and it must be said that this match has absolutely flown past. PSG are good value their lead, but Barcelona are improving in Paris.

34 min SAVE! Ter Stegen has to turn a Draxler effort wide of the post after Roberto had once again been burned by the German international. PSG are such a threat on the counter-attack.

33 min BOOKING! Gomes (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Draxler.

33 min Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they look to work some space in the final third, but PSG have been pretty tight at the back. Neymar has been the pick of the Barcelona forward players so far, with Messi and Suarez yet to ignite. I still fancy this one to end all square on the night.

31 min Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining in Paris and PSG lead courtesy of a wonderful free kick from Di Maria. Barcelona have improved since falling behind, but the visitors are still vulnerable at the back, especially with Cavani and his brilliant movement in the final third.

28 min CHANCE! Super chance for Barcelona to level as Neymar bursts through the heart of the PSG defence before sliding a pass into Gomes, but the midfielder cannot beat Trapp!

26 min... Messi has a go, but his effort is straight into the wall.

26 min Patient probing from Barcelona in the last few minutes and there is no question that the goal has brought a reaction from the Spanish giants. This time Barcelona have a free kick, although it is quite far out and it will take something special to beat the PSG goalkeeper from this area...

25 min First sign of panic inside the PSG box sees Trapp hack the ball behind for a corner, but the home side deal with the danger and can break down-field once again. Signs of Barcelona life though.

23 min Ter Stegen has to drop down and keep out a powerful strike from Cavani.

22 min Barcelona need to wake up. Plain and simple. The away side just have not started this match and if they are not careful, PSG will blow them away in the first leg. There will be no panic from Barcelona at this stage, but they still have a concern over Neymar as the Brazilian goes off the field for treatment.

19 min PSG make the breakthrough in the 18th minute of this match as Di Maria curls a wonderful free kick into the top corner. Ter Stegen did not move and the home side deservedly lead in Paris.

18 min... GOAL! PSG 1-0 Barcelona (Di Maria)

17 min PSG have a free kick in a very dangerous area as Umtiti chops Draxler to the deck...

17 min Neymar is not moving very well at the moment after having his foot stood on!

16 min Barcelona have done well to survive this period without conceding a goal, but the visitors are struggling to make their mark down the other end. Spurred on by a vibrant home crowd, PSG are very much in control of this first leg. Di Maria is absolutely everywhere for the French side tonight.

14 min We have not seen too much from the likes of Messi, Suarez and Neymar in the opening 14 minutes of this match. Instead, it has been PSG very much forcing the issue in advanced areas here.

11 min CHANCES! More good work from PSG as the home side cut through Barcelona once again. Matuidi has the first chance inside the Barcelona box, but Ter Stegen is on hand to make a super save, and Di Maria's strike is then blocked by Pique. Barcelona are wobbling in Paris.

10 min Matuidi is a touch fortunate to escape a booking after a really late challenge on Busquets. PSG are not allowing Barcelona any time on the ball at the moment. It is a fascinating tactical battle here.

8 min Barcelona have not really settled in this match as PSG continue to force the issue in forward positions. Cavani's movement is causing all sorts of problems, while Di Maria and Matuidi are seeing plenty of the ball. Add Draxler into the equation and there are a lot of problems for the visitors.

6 min CHANCE! Super chance for PSG to make the breakthrough as Di Maria finds Cavani inside the Barcelona box, but Roberto is on hand to make a goal-saving challenge.

5 min Good goalkeeping from Ter Stegen as the Barcelona stopper comes out to confront Matuidi after Di Maria had released a pass behind the Barcelona defence. Plenty happening at the moment!

3 min BOOKING! Rabiot (PSG) is booked for chopping Neymar to the deck. Rabiot has been full of beans in the opening minutes and now he has a yellow card for his troubles!

4 min Rabiot has been very busy in the early moments of this match as he continues to pick up possession and pick passes in central positions. Cavani is the target for a Di Maria pass after another decent move, but Ter Stegen is on hand to claim. Barcelona yet to really settle here.

2 min... it must be said that the atmosphere inside the stadium is absolutely wonderful. PSG are in their home kit tonight, while Barcelona play in green. It has been a fast start from the hosts as Rabiot bursts through midfield after a loose ball from Busquets, but Umtiti is on hand to challenge.

0 min KICKOFF! PSG kick things off in Paris...