Paris Saint-Germain overcame a 3-2 deficit in the first leg with a 6-4 aggregate victory, allowing the French team to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 2020-2021 season.
Mbappe, who is scheduled to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer with speculation that Real Madrid will be his next destination, told reporters that his future does not concern him and that all his focus is currently focused on achieving glory for the French team.
“I dream of winning the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain,” Mbappe told reporters yesterday, Tuesday.
He added, “I am proud to be at Paris Saint-Germain from day one. It is not about the good and bad times I spent here. I feel proud to represent this club that defends the colors of the French capital. This thing carries a special taste because I grew up here. I cannot be happy tonight.” “We have one more step to go before we reach the final at Wembley so we need to be calm.”
Paris Saint-Germain will play against Germany’s Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, after the latter surpassed its Spanish rival, Atletico Madrid, 5-4 on aggregate in the two-legged matches.
Barcelona took the lead just 12 minutes after the starting whistle through Brazilian Rafinha, after Al-Amin Jamal dribbled past Saint-Germain’s defense on the right side and passed a perfect ball towards the Brazilian, who put the ball into the net.
However, Paris Saint-Germain took advantage of the expulsion of Ronald Araujo, the home team’s defender, in the 29th minute after a foul on Barcola, who was in a one-on-one position in an ideal manner.
Ousmane Dembélé, the former Barcelona player, was able to score the equalizer for Paris Saint-Germain five minutes before the end of the first half after a wonderful low cross pass from Barkola.
Paris Saint-Germain continued to put pressure in the second half until Vitinha was able to put the visitors ahead after 54 minutes.
The goal came after a corner kick by Dembele towards Achraf Hakimi, who passed the ball to the unmarked Vitinha outside the area to fire a shot from a long distance into Barcelona’s net.
Paris Saint-Germain’s pressure did not stop until they were awarded a penalty kick in the 61st minute after Joao Cancelo obstructed Dembélé, which Mbappé successfully shot into the top corner.
While Barcelona tried to score a goal to push the match into extra time, Mbappe took advantage of a counterattack to score from close range a minute before the end of normal time, and his team secured its place in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund.
“We beat a great team tonight,” Mbappe said. “But even if we lose, I will be proud to be a Parisian.”
“We cannot be happy with a victory over an opponent whom we longed to beat to take a step towards the final. We dedicate this victory to the fans who came here to support us and also to the fans in our country. It is a night we should be proud of.”
