From “disaster” to “incredible”, there was a mood of shock and amazement in the Spanish and French papers following Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday evening.
Angel di Maria scored twice as PSG romped to victory in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash in France.
The defeat was Barca’s joint-heaviest in the competition and no side has overturned a four-goal deficit to progress in a Champions League knockout tie.
“This is not Barca” was the headline of Barcelona-based newspaper Sport on Wednesday morning.
“Luis Enrique’s side received a historical humiliation in Paris. Only Neymar and [Marc-Andre] Ter Stegen save face in an unrecognisable team without heart,” they added.
Sport columnist Ernest Folch did not hold back in his assessment of the night in an article titled “Barca shipwrecked without a coach”.
“Barca fell in Paris without valour and without excuses. It was a tumultuous fall, from the first to the last minute, and the worst part of the shipwreck was that, more than an accident, it manifested itself as an intense reflection of many problems…that had already been shown throughout the season.
“Barca bled in midfield in the Parc des Princes, the same point they have suffered all year, highlighted yesterday by Iniesta’s injury, a lost Busquets and a drifting Andre Gomes who is totally undeveloped to play in this team right now.”
SkySports.com
