Kylian Mbappe proved he is already one of the world’s greatest players after netting a hat-trick in Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-1 win over Barcelona, according to Mauricio Pochettino.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• LinkedIn

 Kylian Mbappe left with the match ball after leading PSG’s rout of Barcelona PSG battered Barca in Camp Nou on Tuesday, the Parisian’s taking an emphatic away win into the second leg at the Parc des Princes next month.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• LinkedIn

“He has already done extraordinary things, but we must remain humble. There are 90 minutes left and they have great players. There is still a second leg.”

The result gives PSG a massive advantage ahead of the second leg, though they of all clubs will be aware of what can happen when complacency sets in.

This was PSG’s first trip to Barcelona since the 2017 humiliation, when they surrendered a 4-0 first-leg lead by losing 6-1 in the return leg.

As such, Pochettino was keen to stress PSG cannot get absorbed in any talk about their performance in Camp Nou being “perfect”.

“There is no such thing as perfection,” he added. “I am happy with the result and how we played, but we have to remain humble.

“On Sunday we have a big match against Monaco, we are already looking towards this match.”

This was the first time Barcelona have conceded four goals in a home Champions League knockout match in over 23 years.

They have never progressed in a European knockout tie when losing their first game at home.

Kylian Mbappe can go on to be the equal of Cristiano Ronaldo after his hat-trick saw Paris Saint-Germain destroy Barcelona 4-1 in the Champions League.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• LinkedIn

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• LinkedIn

There really isn’t a better wielder of the axe that struck the final blow on this era of Barcelona than Kylian Mbappé and his three-goal night. While it’s been Lionel Messi’s world for so long, any minute now it’s going to be Mbappé’s to do with how he sees fit. That is, if it isn’t already.

Paris Saint-Germain F.C’s 4-1 foot-in-the-ass-and-twist of Barcelona doesn’t make any statement that we haven’t already heard or known about the Catalans. They have been a basketcase for a couple seasons now, their team has needed an overhaul, but the difference between them and what is one of Europe’s elite being so clearly and ruthlessly illustrated was still jarring. Barcelona were the gold standard for so long that it will always be sobering to see them become Ali to Leon Spinks.

It would seem that Barça manager Ronald Koeman knew that his side was up against it, because the first half Barcelona were very cautious. They didn’t press PSG high, and were hoping to strike on the counter without giving too much space. And that’s exactly what they got, thanks to something of a gift penalty that Messi duly converted.

But this is a Barça side that is not built to simply hold out teams (what it is they’re built to do isn’t very clear), and Mbappé was installed on the left of PSG’s attack, where he eyed up the decomposing Gerard Piqué and the inexperienced Sergiño Dest at right back, pulled out a couple forks and licked his lips (don’t lose heart, USMNT fans, Dest is hardly the first nor the last right back to be turned to stew by Mbappé).

His first goal is a masterclass in touch inside the box, where he removed Clément Lenglet’s soul and served it back to him with some paprika to bring out the flavors:

At half it was 1-1, and Barça came out to try and create more…which only resulted in them being completely torn apart. Mbappé’s second goal was a product of being in the right spot at the right time, and an unerring finish, but strikers like Mbappé always seem to do that. After marking Moise Kean with their imaginary friend on a free kick to go down 3-1, Mbappé applied the toe-tag to Barça with this flippant, arrogant, gorgeous finish for his third goal on the night:

When Barça went down and had to push for more goals, the only result that ever looked likely was PSG simply running over their midfield into space and scoring more. And that’s exactly what happened. Barcelona looked completely out of ideas or inspiration, and were lethargic all over the field. They had looked a little more lively in recent weeks in La Liga, but it’s one thing to blast Alaves and quite another to stare down Mbappé and crew. Going from beating the former 5-1 and then getting blistered by the latter 4-1 at home just four days later makes that perfectly clear.

It wasn’t just Mbappé. PSG were better all over the pitch, as Barcelona couldn’t get close to Marco Veratti in midfield or escape the clutches of Idrissa Gueye when they did have the ball. In a game they trailed for a lot of, the Blaugrana managed just three shots on target other than Messi’s penalty. PSG had nine. It is here that a more mischievous observer would poke and prod about PSG looking better without Neymar and his holding up of the ball instead of quickly moving it through into space, but we’ll leave that for another time.

If Messi is indeed waiting to make his final decision on whether to pack his bags and seek a new challenge after this season, Mbappé gave him a clear answer. Barça are either too old or too young in too many spots, and Messi, 33, doesn’t have the time to see if the youngsters are “the next batch” or just a collection of unfulfilled promise they’ll be selling off to Eibar in three years. And we know that Barça’s finances don’t exactly put them in a position to go on the shopping spree to equip Messi with the quality of teammates he’s accustomed. They’re basically already out of the Champions League. They’re eight points behind Atletico Madrid and Atletico have a game in hand. They’re out of the Copa del Rey. If trophies were going to keep Messi in Spain, then Barça are shit out of luck.

WHO IS KYIAN MBAAPPE

Kylian Mbappé Lottin (born 20 December 1998) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Widely considered as one of the best players in the world, he is known for his dribbling, explosive speed, and clinical finishing.

Mbappé began his senior career with Ligue 1 club Monaco, making his professional debut in 2015, aged 16. With them, he won a Ligue 1 title, Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, and the Golden Boy award. In 2017, he signed for league rivals Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan, which was made permanent in 2018 in a transfer worth €180 million, making him both the second-most expensive player and most expensive teenager. There, Mbappé won three Ligue 1 titles, two Coupe de France titles, was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and has finished as Ligue 1 top scorer twice. He is also the third-highest goalscorer in the club’s history.

At international level, Mbappé made his senior debut for France in 2017, at age 18. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Mbappé became the youngest French player to score at a World Cup, and became the second teenager, after Pelé, to score in a World Cup Final. He finished as the joint second-highest goalscorer as France won the tournament, and he received the Best Young Player and French Player of the Year awards for his performances.