Barcelona claim 'great victory' at PSG to hold Champions League quarter-final advantage

Barcelona manager Xavi praised his team's "great victory" over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday after a 3-2 win at the Parc des Princes gave the Catalans a slender advantage in their Champions League quarter-final.

Brazilian winger Raphinha gave the visitors the lead at half time, only for PSG to turn the game on its head with goals by Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha in the first six minutes after the restart.

However, Raphinha volleyed in a Pedri pass to equalise midway through the second half, before substitute Andreas Christensen's 77th-minute header gave Barca the victory.

"We had time to prepare for this game and everything turned out very well, in defence and in attack. We are proud of the team. Paris played very well, but we kept their threat to a minimum," said Xavi, whose side are unbeaten in 12 games since he announced he would depart at the end of the season.

"It is a great victory against one of the best teams in the world. It is very difficult to defend against this team because of how they press you, but we did it very well. We are only halfway there though, and it will be very difficult in Barcelona."

The Catalans are appearing in the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 2020, when they lost 8-2 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon, and since Lionel Messi left the club. It is their first away win in the knockout phase of the competition since 2019.

"The players believe in themselves," said Xavi as he looked ahead to next Tuesday's return at Montjuic. "They have this opportunity, and if they play in the same way they will get chances. Nothing is done but we can be proud. This match shows that Barca are very much alive."

It was a disappointing night for PSG, with Kylian Mbappe for once failing to