A dismal performance from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and a shockingly muted display from superstar striker Kylian Mbappe left Paris Saint-Germain with a mountain to climb in their Champions League quarter-final after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
Donnarumma was at fault for all three of Barcelona's goals, with his poor decision-making and sloppy distribution putting the hosts under constant pressure. Meanwhile, Mbappe - touted as one of the world's best players - was a virtual passenger, offering little to influence the match.
"It was a hugely disappointing night for us," said a dejected PSG manager Luis Enrique after the game. "We let ourselves down in critical moments and were punished for it. Gigi and Kylian will be the first to hold their hands up, but we win and lose as a team."
Raphinha capitalized on Donnarumma's error to give Barcelona the lead before half-time, but PSG responded impressively after the break, with Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha scoring in quick succession to turn the game on its head.
However, Barcelona stormed back, with Raphinha netting his second and Christensen heading home a late winner to silence the home crowd.
"We got ourselves back into the tie, but then we gifted Barcelona the win," said a visibly frustrated Marquinhos. "Gigi will be disappointed with his errors, and Kylian just didn't get into the game like we know he can. We have to regroup quickly ahead of the second leg."
The crushing defeat will heap further scrutiny on Donnarumma and Mbappe, both of whom were expected to lead PSG's quest for European glory this season. Donnarumma's distribution and decision-making have been subject to criticism for some time, while Mbappe's subdued performance raised questions about his ability to deliver on the biggest stages.
"Kylian is a world-class player, but he was anonymous tonight," said French football pundit Julien Laurens. "When the team needed him most, he simply didn't show up. That's a concern, especially with the second leg still to come."
With the return fixture at the Camp Nou looming, PSG face an uphill battle to overturn the one-goal deficit and progress to the semi-finals. The performance of Donnarumma and Mbappe will be pivotal, and they will need to bounce back emphatically if the French champions are to have any chance of salvaging their Champions League dreams.
"It's not over yet," insisted Enrique. "We have 90 minutes left to turn this tie around. But we'll need our big players to step up and show their quality. Tonight was a setback, but we're still in this."
