MEMORIES of the 4-0 drubbings by Bayern Munich in 2013 and AC Milan in 1994 came rushing back as Barcelona endured a nightmarish 90 minutes at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to rival those two debacles as their worst ever European competition Tuesday night.

    Barcelona players were overwhelmed by Unai Emery’s men, and the Spaniard enjoyed a dish of revenge served extra cold after suffering so many defeats at the hands of Barca over the years.

    Every player with the exception of the German goalkeeper had a display to forget, and that’s putting it kindly. Barring a miracle at the Camp Nou (no side has overturned a 4-0 deficit in a two-legged tie in any competition in the club’s history), Barca will be heading out of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) at the earliest stage since Liverpool knocked the side out in the last 16 in 2007. With the league title edging closer toward Real Madrid, its last shot at a trophy is now looking like the Copa del Rey.

    The main question before the game was whether Barcelona coach Luis Enrique would opt for Andre Gomes or Ivan Rakitic. He opted for Gomes with the apparent aim of having more control in possession, but Barca dearly missed the Croatian’s tenacity, while Andres Iniesta looked woefully short of full match fitness.

    Lionel Messi had one of his worst games in a Barca shirt, and like his teammates, he failed to create much of anything.

    Although PSG was without the injured defensive rock and captain Thiago Silva and the suspended holding midfielder Thiago Motta, it was the better team from the first whistle to the last. Within minutes, Edinson Cavani had a clear-cut chance on a splendid ball from the transcendent Angel Di Maria, but the Uruguayan took too long and was closed down.

    In the 11th minute, Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen managed to keep PSG at bay with a stunning one-handed save on Blaise Matuidi’s rip. Adrien Rabiot then put the rebound right at Ter Stegen.

    But seven minutes later, defender Samuel Umtiti, overrun once again as PSG scythed through Barcelona’s back line, chopped down Julian Draxler on the edge of the box. Di Maria then swung a superb free kick into the net, nailing Ter Stegen to the ground.

    And in the 55th minute, PSG easily traversed the entire field and found Di Maria. And the Argentine, once a star for Barca’s archrival Real Madrid, was left with way too much room outside the box and curled his shot artfully past Ter Stegen for a second goal on his birthday.

    (SD-Agencies)