The good news for Barcelona, as they embark their apparent mission impossible at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, is they have achieved something very similar before.
There’s also the promising general trend of away wins becoming steadily more frequent in the Champions League, especially while matches are played behind closed doors.
Favourable fitness bulletins reached Barcelona before they set off for France for the second leg of their last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain, too. Neymar has not recovered from injury and will be missing for PSG.
The trouble is, Neymar was not at Camp Nou three weeks ago, either, where thanks to a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick and a goal from Moise Kean PSG demolished Barca 4-1.
As for the fabled precedent for a huge comeback, the astonishing 2017 meeting between these clubs in which Barcelona won 6-1 to wipe out a first leg 4-0 deficit to PSG, that was very much a Neymar-inspired show, in what was the Brazilian's last season as a Barcelona player.
The famous 6-1 was galvanised by a home crowd at Camp Nou, and although Barcelona might have benefited had 90,000 been present, supporting them when Mbappe tore through their brittle defence last month, the 4-1 victory flattered the French champions in no way at all.
Lightning seldom strikes twice and the PSG who defend their three-goal advantage on Wednesday are more savvy in European terms than they were four years ago.
They were finalists in the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history last August, their goal is now protected by three-times European Cup winner in Keylor Navas, and Mbappe, the precocious World Cup winner, is on a scoring streak.
Mbappe’s goals against Brest in the Cup at the weekend were his 24th and 25th of the club season so far. He hit a brace in his last league match, against Dijon and has five from his last two outings in the Champions League.
Nor does he need to be concerned about Gerard Pique grabbing his jersey as he outpaces Barcelona’s last line of defence, as photographers memorably captured the defender trying to do in the image that summed up PSG’s power to puncture Barca in the first leg.
Pique is out injured, as is fellow central defender Ronald Araujo. “We have not had a single day this season when everybody has been available,” noted Ronald Koeman, the Barcelona manager. “We’ve been having very bad luck with our central defenders.
“But we have shown we don’t depend on just one or two players. The side is strong and we intend to prove that once again.”
A belief in their ability to bounce back has swelled in the last seven days. Barcelona are in the Spanish Cup final thanks to having turned around a 2-0 first leg loss at Sevilla with a 3-0 win, sealed via goals in the fourth minute of stoppage time and then another in extra time of the second leg.
“You can’t really compare coming back from 2-0 down away with 1-4, having lost at home,” said Koeman, grounding any fanciful flights of optimism. “But I always believe nothing is impossible. To have any chance we have to play the complete match, and be effective in every area.”
There is the Lionel Messi factor. This might be his last Champions League game for Barcelona, after all, with the club captain out of contract in June and studying closely his alternatives to remaining at Barca.
“To believe we are capable of a comeback, we need every player at their best level,” said Koeman. “If Leo has one of his best games, everything becomes possible. He can decide any match in any moment.
"You also need luck when you finish moves. We’ll see from the early stages if we can dominate, and put some pressure on.”
PSG will be wary of that. “We need to be even more focused than we were in the first leg,” said Mauricio Pochettino, the PSG manager, mindful that at Camp Nou, Barcelona actually went 1-0 up via a Messi penalty. As for that epic comeback of 2017, the first of Barcelona’s six goals was scored after three minutes.
That episode, insisted Pochettino, is irrelevant and will not play on any of the minds of any of the three or four PSG players from that night who may be involved this evening.
“The only history that matters is what has happened since January 3,” he said. That was the day Pochettino started as his PSG reign. So far, his brief European record with his new club is outstanding and he intends to keep it that way.
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Barca 1 PSG 4: player ratings
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BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 - Kept busier than in recent domestic games but stranded by Mbappe’s magnificence for the visitors’ opening goal. Another fine save from Mbappe on 46 minutes but beaten twice again in the second half and Kean’s header went through his hands. Overwhelmed, like his team. Getty -
Sergino Dest, 4 - The young American will never forget the night he tried to contain Mbappe – a near impossible task and Pique tried to talk him through with little success as he was found out of position. Looked a little nervous and did his best, but it’d be easier to make a house out of jelly. EPA -
Gerard Pique, 5 - Surprise call up having been out since November, but with Aruajo out, needs must and Pique’s experience was called on. Sidestepped by Mbappe for the first PSG goal. Which defender wouldn’t have been? Blocked a Verrati shot with his head and heeled a Florenzi cross away from goal – towards Mbappe who scored the second. The defining image of the game is him trying – and failing – to stop Mbappe. AFP -
Clement Lenglet, 5 - Not the certain starter he was a year ago, but Koeman went for his experience against his compatriots. Involved, but not always in a good way and looked all over the place as PSG asserted their superiority. Reuters -
Jordi Alba, 6 - Left looking where the ball was when former Barça player Icardi headed a corner just wide at the end of an excellent first half. In the second, Alba’s pass was handled and it looked like it should have been a penalty. AFP -
Frenkie de Jong, 6 - Won a 26th minute penalty after tripping. And that was just about his highlight. Cut a forlorn figure after as he explained how his side had been outclassed. Getty -
Sergio Busquets, 6 - A cerebral and hugely successful footballer, but struggled against PSG’s fleet-heeled forwards. And midfielders as they attacked in waves with devastating speed and precision. Normally has over 100 touches per games – had just 58 in 77 minutes. EPA -
Pedri, 6 - New signing and a revelation this season, the teen put Griezmann towards goal on 13 minutes. Stopped an 18th minute Mbappe effort going in on the line. Tough first half for him against Gueye, who fouled him (and several other Barca players) and was booked on 20 minutes. An experience for him to play a game of such a high level. AFP -
Lionel Messi, 7 - Looked on it at the start. One-two with Griezmann early on, came deep to try and get more involved, smashed a 26th minute left foot penalty centrally past Navas. Used to outclassing teams, it was his time to be outclassed as Barça were humiliated in the Champions League for a fourth consecutive season. Reuters -
Antoine Griezmann, 6 - A 13th minute shot well saved by Navas. Ran from his own half with the ball and chased by three players after 36 minutes to shoot past Navas – but just wide. AFP -
Ousmane Dembele, 5 - Feeble 28th minute shot should have made it 2-0, but the ball trickled towards Navas. Exciting when he got the ball on the right, but PSG’s defence were so well organised to blunt him. A poor showing against his compatriots. EPA -
SUBS: Oscar Mingueza, N/A - On for Dest 72. Had to stop the unplayable Mbappe, but how to stop a player who is unplayable? You can’t. AFP -
Trincao, N/A - On for Piqie on 78. He’s been in form lately and scoring goals but had little impact. Reuters -
Riqui Puig, N/A - On for Pedri on 78. Looked a boy among men. AFP -
Miralem Pjanic, N/A - On for Busquets on 78. Wanted more minutes in Koeman’s side. Didn’t want them when his side were already beaten. AP -
Martin Braithwaite, N/A - On for Griezmann on 85. Like trying to put a large fire out with a small cup of water. The damage was done and Pjanic had to urge him to get the ball quicker for a corner. EPA -
PSG RATINGS: Keylor Navas, 5 – The former Real Madrid goalkeeper could do little to stop Lionel Messi’s penalty, but was very lucky not to be punished when he tried to outwit Antoine Griezmann with a disastrous chipped clearance which almost ended up in the back of the net. AP -
Alessandro Florenzi, 7 – After a cagey first half he was excellent in the second and he produced a vital clearance on the slide with the hosts piling on the pressure, before charging forward to supply the cross which allowed Kylian Mbappe to rifle in his second. Getty -
Marquinhos, 6 – Like Florenzi, he will have been relieved to see the Griezmann chance go begging when he was uncertain as to whether he should close down the forward or track the runner, but asides from that it was a steady night’s work for the Brazilian. AFP -
Presnel Kimpembe, 7 - Another big performance at the back from Kimpembe, who produced a crucial block to deny Ousmane Dembele early in the contest before reacting quickest to snuff out Sergio Busquets’ ball over the top for Messi. AFP -
Layvin Kurzawa, 7 - Guilty of tripping De Jong in the box as Messi made no mistake from 12 yards, but he responded perfectly when his cross was flicked into the path of Mbappe who hammered in the leveller before ter Stegen’s fingertips denied him a huge goal. AFP -
Leandro Paredes, 7 – A story of set pieces. A lethargic first half was epitomised by a couple of poor deliveries, but when it really mattered he put a precise free-kick on a plate for Kean to steer the visitors into a 3-1 lead having earlier unleashed Florenzi to set up Mbappe’s second of the night. Reuters -
Idrissa Gueye, 5 - For a split-second it looked like Barcelona were in trouble when he lined one up from distance only for his strike to bend comfortably wide. He was booked for hauling down Pedri and seemed determined to get sent off until his withdrawal at the break. AFP -
MF Moise Kean, 8 – How Everton fans will be wishing they’d seen a bit more of this. The winger forced a corner after ghosting between two defenders with frightening acceleration before he was twice denied by smart saves from ter Stegen, but he popped up at the back post to nod the French side into dreamland. AFP -
Marco Verratti, 8 - PSG’s most influential player inside the opening 45 minutes as the Italian pulled the strings in the middle and set up Mbappe with a lovely calculated flick. He was equally effective at the other end, thwarting Griezmann with a glorious tackle. AFP -
Kylian Mbappe, 10 - An exceptional talent, a remarkable hat-trick. The sensational forward showed brilliant feet to shift the ball away from Clement Lenglet and onto his left foot before smashing PSG level. He was on hand again to hammer Les Parisiens in front and he capped an electric evening with a fine strike into the top corner. AFP -
Mauro Icardi, 6 - Wasted one of the chances of the night when his tame strike was hooked away to safety by Pedri with the goal gaping and he showed a similar lack of conviction after the break when he opted to flick the ball to Kean when it was begging to be hit. AFP -
SUBS: Ander Herrera, 6 - Replaced the less than subtle Idrissa Gueye at the interval as Maurico Pochettino exercised caution and he almost sent Mbappe away again with a lifted ball over the top. AP -
Thilo Kehrer, N/A - Thrown into the mix in place of Alessandro Florenzi as the visitors saw off a late Barca rally. AFP -
Julian Draxler, N/A - Replaced Marco Verratti in the 72nd minute and put the icing on the cake when he showed excellent close control before laying the ball off for Mbappe to complete a brilliant hat-trick. AFP -
DF Danilo Pereira, N/A - Replaced the impressive Moise Kean. The idea was probably to preserve the lead the visitors already had rather than extending it, but Mbappe had other ideas. AFP
