The rest of the Barcelona players are unable to pull their weight. That’s were Barça are struggling. When PSG attacked and pressed, the Catalans lost their shape and composure. They looked like they had run out of ideas. Luis Enrqiue not using all his substitutes spoke volumes.

The struggle is real.

Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic are perhaps having the worst season of their careers. Busquets, who is the finest in the world at his job was made to look average by PSG. Even the mighty Andrés Iniesta has not been himself. I suppose there is only so much a man can do. The Spaniard is 33 and still exhibits his class on the pitch. The captain has been let down by his team. There’s a question that will linger after the defeat. It was always there. But now it’s going to be persistent. What after Iniesta? The thing is the likes of Denis Suarez, André Gomes and Rafina are yet to offer the promise. Soon Barça will have to bring in a direct replacement. Coutinho, ahem!

What I am saying is this. Behind the MSN excellence lies trouble that Luis Enrique must address.

Bravo PSG!

After getting knocked out by their opponents in 2013 and 2015, it seemed the Catalans had the Parisians in their pocket. PSG were handicapped by missing Thiago Silva to injury and Thiago Motta to suspension. The Parisians were always the underdog here. Any PSG fan would have been content with a nil-nil result. It would still give them a fighting chance heading into Camp Nou. But in the romantic capital of the world, PSG delivered the best valentine’s gift for their faithful. It seemed liked the reserved their best for the best.

The PSG was decisive, fast and hard working. Barcelona, drained, slow, and lost. The midfield of Blaise Matuidi, Adrian Rabiot and Marco Verratti went at the opposition with confidence and energy. They dismantled Barcelona’s. The Parisians were passing the ball and creating chances like it was a practice session. They had space and time to wreck havoc. That’s what they did. The defense choked MSN trio who were pressed and bullied, their team, embarrassed. Barcelona had a solitary shot on target. While on the other end, PSG making an art of attacking football. Each goal was better than the previous.

Messi had no touches in the penalty box. Nada.

For Paris Saint-Germain, match winners were in plenty. Julian Draxler has been a revelation. He scored on his Ligue 1 debut, and now on his European debut for PSG. The second goal was a confident strike from the German. But all marks for team effort here. PSG pressed and robbed Barça off the ball. Draxler, clinical with the finish. Angel Di Maria’s second of the night was sublime. And that attack started right from their goal-keeper Kevin Trapp. But for me, the best of the night was Edison Cavani’s. My word, that was a top class finish on the run. It had me jumping up from the couch, spilling beer all over myself. That was the final nail in the Catalan coffin that would leave Paris. Oh, and Adrien Rabiot. The first time I head the name was a few years back when he was rumored to be scouted by Arsenal. I guess its staple for an exciting young French prospect to be linked with Arsene Wenger. If the Arsenal manager was interested, I figured Rabiot must be good. Against Barcelona he cemented that. Rabiot is just 21. In a few years time he might well turn out to be one of the best midfielders of his generation. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Barcelona themselves sign this talent down the line. There’s quality in the Parisian club. Then there is Unai Emery, a man who has done wonders on tighter budgets. One who is all familiar to Barcelona. It was just his second victory over the Catalan heavyweights in 24 attempts. This will be right up there with the three Europa League triumphs with Sevilla. It was a night to celebrate the brilliance of the manager. One that he thoroughly deserved. The crowd in Paris turned up. As the mighty Barça crumbled under the relentless determination of the hosts, the noise level at Parc des Princes reached deafening proportions. It was a night PSG fans will cherish. It’s exactly the performance from the team the ambitious Qatari owners envisioned to propel the club among the European elite.