‘Hat-trick in front of the mesh’ Mbafe sinks Barcelona

PSG’s signature striker Mbappe cheers immediately after he scored an equalizer against Barcelona. [AP=연합뉴스]

It was like the inauguration ceremony of the soccer emperor. French professional football Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Cillian Mbappe (23) hit a hat-trick and defeated Spanish giant FC Barcelona. Barcelona sign Lionel Messi, 34, watched Mbafe’s big success and the defeat of his team silently on the ground.

PSG defeated Barcelona 4-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 in the 2020-21 season held in Camp Nou in Barcelona, ​​Spain on the 17th. Even if you lose the remaining 2nd leg, if you keep the score within the difference between two goals, you will advance to the quarterfinals.

It was a one-man show for the PSG main gun Mbafe. Messi’s opening goal followed by 0-1 in the first 32 minutes, starting with an equalizer in the first half, and in the second half of the 20th and 40th minutes, he scored additional goals one after another to create a hat-trick. He was named the third player in the European Champions League to score a hat-trick against Barcelona. It has been 24 years since Fausto Aspriya (Newcastle) and Andrey Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev) in 1997.

Messi silently watched Mbappe’s hat-trick. [AP=연합뉴스]

UK Huscore.com scored a 10 out of 10 on Mbafe’s performance. PSG teammate Mois Keane, who scored a goal in the second half of the 25th minute, is second with 8.7 points.

Messi, who is called the’god of football’, couldn’t surpass Mbafe’s big success in violating the Barcelona defensive line. In the 27th minute of the first half, it was all that he scored a goal as a kicker at the penalty. Over whether or not to change the generation of the football emperor, he bowed his head in a confrontation that was noted by football fans and the media.

UEFA selected Mbafe as the best player (MVP) after the game. “Not only scored 3 goals, but all attacks were threatening.”

Reporter Song Ji-hoon [email protected]