EVEN MADRID’S SPORTING press could not deny the scale of achievement after Barcelona pulled off the biggest comeback in European Cup and Champions League history to break Paris Saint-Germain hearts at the Camp Nou.
Neymar’s late heroics inspired a thrilling 6-1 victory to overturn a 4-0 deficit from the first leg, the Brazilian scoring twice and setting up Sergi Roberto’s winner deep into stoppage time.
After the dust had settled, sport news outlets in Spain and France began to digest the incredible scenes.
Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo simply called Luis Enrique’s men “HEROES”, hailing: “A historic comeback with an epic finish in a magical Camp Nou.”
Also based in Barcelona, Sport simply told the players: “YOU ARE LEGENDS.”
Both papers’ front pages were emblazoned with the manic scenes which met Roberto’s winner, images also shared by Madrid-based Marca, who forewent their usual lean towards all things Real Madrid and described the 95th-minute strike as a “miracle”.
It was not all sunshine and light, however, especially in France.
L’Equipe described the game as “UNSPEAKABLE”. It added on the cover: “The whole Parisian project is now threatened by this humiliation.”
Without a dog in the fight, Italy’s Gazxetta dello Sport labelled the night ‘insane’.
The more straight-laced publications in Spain had to bump news over a bit to put Barca front and centre.
And, finally. What would an epic Barcelona comeback be without at least a little conspiracy from Madrid?
AS filled the role in this respect, running the headline ”A COMEBACK WITH OBJECTIONS”, and splashing images of PSG players berating referee Deniz Aytekin, who awarded the hosts a controversial penalty during their last-gasp comeback.
“PSG and the referee were burned by stage fright,” they claimed.
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