Angel di Maria was Paris Saint-Germain’s marquee signing in the summer of 2015, but the Argentine has not yet managed to hit the heights he reached at Real Madrid before his disastrous move to Manchester United.
But nights like Tuesday are precisely why PSG shelled out the money to get Di Maria.
In a marquee Champions League match against Barcelona, the winger lit up the Parc des Princes with a dazzling performance as the Parisians stunned Lionel Messi and company in a 4-0 win.
The Argentine turned 29 on Tuesday, and he made sure he celebrated in style, scoring twice and generally being a menace throughout as PSG ruthlessly exploited an under-par Barcelona.
Di Maria’s first goal was a thing of beauty, as he whipped a free kick over the Barcelona wall and into the net, and his second, a 25-yard curler, was just as good.
Ángel Di María: MotM vs Barcelona, Rating 9.13, Goals 2, Shots 3, Key Passes 4, Tackles 1, Interceptions 1 @PSG_English pic.twitter.com/XSekrX4NEM
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 14, 2017
Failure to truly make a mark in the Champions League has been a sticking point for PSG’s fans and detractors, and especially the club’s Qatari owners. But Di Maria’s performance delivered a statement win for the French side, a result that could prove to be a turning point for PSG’s fortunes in Europe.
PSG have not dominated Ligue 1 this season like they usually do, but a 4-0 win over Barcelona and a confident Angel di Maria are signs that manager Unai Emery is finally righting the ship in Paris.
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