Angel Di Maria sets sights on second Champions League trophy after masterminding Barcelona's downfall

The former Manchester United winger struck twice as PSG announced their arrival as genuine European heavyweights by putting Barcelona on the brink of elimination

Angel Di Maria believes Paris Saint-Germain can win the Champions League after beating Barcelona 4-0 (Getty)

Former Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria has turned his attentions to winning a second Champions League of his career after orchestrating the incredible 4-0 demilition of Barcelona in Tuesday night’s last-16 first leg.

The 29-year-old left Real Madrid shortly after they lifted the famous trophy in 2013/14, having been named man of the match in the 4-1 final victory over Atletico Madrid. A poor season with Manchester United followed, before the Argentina upped sticks once again and moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

The transfer has already proven a success, with Di Maria helping PSG to win the Ligue 1 title last season, but Tuesday’s victory was undoubtedly their coming of age as a European powerhouse. Di Maria scored two of the four goals put past Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and the evening was made all the more sweeter given that both Di Maria and Edinson Cavani – who scored one of the two other goals with Julian Draxler completing the rout – both celebrating their birthdays.

"It's hard to think of a better birthday or a better performance than this," Di Maria told BT Sport.

"Our aim is to reach the final and win the Champions League. We are getting there gradually and moving forward - this was a tough game against one of the best teams in the world, so we did a great job.

"We've been showing this for a few years now. We controlled the game for 90 minutes. It's not easy to control Neymar, (Luis) Suarez and (Lionel) Messi but we managed it.

"We covered so much ground, worked so hard as a team and the most important thing is we got the win and a big step forward.


 Both Cavani and Di Maria celebrated their birthdays in style (AFP/Getty)
 (AFP/Getty Images)

PSG still have to ensure they do a professional job when they travel to Barcelona in three weeks’ time, although the Catalan side will have to make European history if they are to reach the quarter-finals as no team has ever come back to win a tie after suffering a four-goal deficit in the first leg.

"There is still more to do at the Nou Camp,” Di Maria added. “They will come out of the blocks fast to put pressure on us so we have to do the same as tonight and even more."