Kylian Mbappe's Hat-trick Leads PSG to 4-1 Champions League Victory Over Barcelona
Mbappe Becomes Third Player to Score Champions League Hat-trick Against Barcelona
Paris Saint-Germain Now Heavily Favored to Advance to Quarterfinals
Kylian Mbappe put on a stunning performance on Wednesday, scoring a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Barcelona 4-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The French forward became only the third player to score a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Champions League, after Faustino Asprilla in 1997 and Andriy Shevchenko in 2006.
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the Barcelona penalty area. He doubled the lead just before halftime, curling a beautiful shot into the top corner from outside the box. Mbappe completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, finishing off a counter-attack with a clinical strike. Moise Kean added a fourth goal for PSG in stoppage time.
Barcelona's only goal came from Lionel Messi in the 27th minute. The Argentine superstar curled a free-kick into the top corner, but it was not enough to prevent Barcelona from suffering a disappointing defeat.
The result leaves PSG heavily favored to advance to the quarterfinals. The French champions will host Barcelona in the second leg on March 10, and they will be confident of finishing the job and booking their place in the last eight.
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