Watch: Di Maria, Draxler give PSG lead over Barcelona in Champions League

By Sports Illustrated and SI.com Staff/Sports Illustrated via Planet Futbol
Published

Paris Saint-Germain hasn't enjoyed the same smooth sailing that has resulted in Ligue 1 titles in recent years, but the star-studded squad is still proving to be a worthy opponent for La Liga and Champions League contender Barcelona.

Angel Di Maria celebrated his 29th birthday with a gorgeous free-kick goal and Julian Draxler doubled the lead later on, giving PSG its just reward for a hot start at Parc des Princes in the French capital in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.

PSG pressured Barcelona throughout the opening minutes but only made it pay from the set piece, when Di Maria lined up a 20-yard free kick and blasted it through the Barcelona wall. 

Barcelona came close to equalizing through Andre Gomes, but his chance after a splitting through ball from Neymar was put into the side netting.

The visitors were made to pay for that profligacy in the 40th minute, when Julian Draxler's smooth finish after a pinpoint pass from Marco Verratti beat an otherwise heroic Marc Andre ter Stegen to give PSG a 2-0 lead.

The second leg is slated for next Wednesday at Camp Nou.