: Rampant Paris Saint-Germain obliterates Barcelona in historic win
The Blaugrana’s vaunted “MSN” frontline garners much of the attention around the club, and with good reason, but the midfield trio of Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, and Sergio Busquets has been equally vital to the recent successes, the three men offering the ideal blend of attacking imagination, work rate, and astute positioning to provide defensive cover.
That was all horribly vacant on Tuesday.
With Andre Gomes curiously preferred once again to Rakitic, Luis Enrique – battered in the Spanish press after the loss – watched as his cumbersome trio was repeatedly torn to shreds by the mobile, shape-shifting unit of Verratti, Adrien Rabiot, and Blaise Matuidi.
This was, in short, a slaughter.
Warning signs
Before Paris Saint-Germain ran away with the contest and all but rendered the return leg on March 8 meaningless, there were warning shots sent out that should have had Enrique questioning the viability of his personnel choices.
Relatively early in the match, Verratti – who was immaculate all evening and showcased why so many clubs want to pry him away from the French capital – took out Barcelona’s entire midfield …read more