PARIS: Barcelona will almost certainly be missing from the quarter-finals of the Champions League after crashing to their worst modern European defeat by 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain.
Angel Di Maria produced two brilliant goals to propel a poor Barcelona to a defeat which might have been even more embarrassing.
Former Real Madrid playmaker Di Maria opened the scoring with a fine free-kick on his 29th birthday and curled home a second in between efforts from Julian Draxler and another birthday boy, 30-year-old Edinson Cavani.
Barca were flat from the off, with the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique reduced to bystanders by a lean, focused PSG display.
PSG coach Unai Emery was without the suspended Thiago Motta and the injured Thiago Silva but saw huge performances in their absence, with Champions League debutant Presnel Kimpembe, Marco Veratti and Adrien Rabiot all rivalling the goalscorers.
Early pressure was rewarded in the 17th minute after Draxler coaxed a foul from Samuel Umtiti just outside the box. Di Maria struck the ball beautifully, giving Ter Stegen no chance.
Barcelona sught to respond through Neymar but his shot after a powerful run was deflected wide by keeper Kevin Trapp.
PSG deservedly doubled their advantage before half-time after an off-colour Messi lost possession to Rabiot in midfield and Veratti set up goal No2 for Draxler.
The second half was even more one-sided and PSG scored again after 10 minutes to score again, with Di Maria being allowed a free run in on goal.
Cavani scored the fourth after being allowed time and space by Gerard Pique.
The night’s other tie saw Benfica defeat Borussia Dortmund 1- through Kostas Mitroglou against the run of play, three minutes into the second half.
Dortmund’s star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a night to forget. He had a penalty saved and missed two clear chances before being substituted after 62 minutes.
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