When you've duly despatched Barcelona by four clear goals the term 'laying down the sword' just doesn't cut it. Swapping the sword for the smackdown, PSG owned proceedings at the Parc Des Princes last night. Inviting Barcelona over for tea only to smash the cups, the saucers and remove the sandwich from the opposing mouths, it was a ruthless win with swag written all over.
Sometimes things just click. A defeat that'll hurt the Barcelona heads the day after the night before, it'll also cut right through the heart as it leaves the Catalan giants staring at the exit door. Needing to overcome a four goal deficit is certainly not outside the realms of possibility where Barcelona are concerned but you can expect PSG to turn up with a bus of bricks when they head to the Camp Nou for the return fixture.
For this game however, it was a tale of sheer domination as PSG skipped all five gears to start in sixth from the first minute. Ángel Di María will dominate headlines alongside Birthday boy Edinson Cavani as their three goals between them, joined with new lad Julian Draxler, provided the solid talking points. Though their names are solidly and deservedly planted on the scoresheet, it was perhaps in the shadows where PSG shone. The likes of Marco Verratti provided the fire in the engine to not just move from box to box but thread and sew the creative lines that effectively shutdown the efforts of Messi, Neymar and Suarez.
While Barca will waste no time sitting in a shell-shocked headspace, this fixture will still be a painful embarrassment to overcome. Their chance to come back from the brink of a Champions League farewell will take place on the 8th March. Put it in the calendar, move aside all plans - Valentines Day is done and Barca will bring a loveless attack with them. Game on.
Photography by Stéphane Nam Kunn
