1 Attachment(s)
Di Maria joins exclusive three-man club with Real Madrid double
The 31-year-old made his mark on Wednesday's Group A encounter by scoring a brace in the first half
Angel Di Maria has become just the third player in Champions League history to score a double against both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The PSG star achieved the feat in Wednesday's Group A opener at Parc des Princes, as he netted twice in the first half for the home side.
Di Maria beat Thibaut Courtois at his near post in the 14th minute to open the scoring before collecting a pass from Idrissa Gueye in the 33rd minute and firing home a stunning strike from the top of the box.
Editors' Picks
From Greenwood to Gomes - the Man Utd starlets ready to explode in Europe
Real Madrid old boy Di Maria brutally exposes Zidane's half-baked rebuild
Did Madrid sell the wrong man? Navas harshly treated amidst Courtois crisis
'Atalanta's Ronaldo'! Papu Gomez leads out Europe’s biggest overachievers in Champions League
Only former Porto, Sporting CP and Galatasaray forward Mario Jardel and AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko have also scored a brace against both Barca and Real Madrid in the Champions League.
PSG would go on to ease past Real Madrid 3-0 on the night, as Thomas Meunier put the gloss on a comfortable win with a stoppage-time goal.
Di Maria scored a double against Barcelona in the 2016-17 Champions League last-16 first leg, as PSG stormed to a 4-0 win over the Catalans at Parc des Princes.
Barcelona would famously go on to overturn that deficit in the second leg, winning 6-1 at the Camp Nou in a stunning comeback for the ages.
Neymar starred for Barcelona in that tie, but he was unable to play for PSG in Wednesday's game against Real Madrid due to suspension.
PSG were also without Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani due to injuries, while Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos also missed the match because of a suspension.
However, the Ligue 1 champions hardly seemed to miss their star attacking trio due to Di Maria's form, with the Argentina having now been involved in five of Paris’ last seven goals in the Champions League (two goals, three assists).
Di Maria is also the second Argentine to score against both Real Madrid and Barcelona in Champions League, after Manchester City star Sergio Aguero.
The 31-year-old has started the Ligue 1 season with two goals and an assist in five games, as defending champions PSG top the table with four wins and a draw.
PSG face rivals Lyon on Sunday at Parc Olympique Lyonnais before a midweek fixture against Stade Reims next week.
