Crvena zvezda were defeated 4-1 at the hands of a quality Paris Saint-Germain side in Belgrade to bow out of Champions League and end what has been a marvelous adventure.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: William Collum (Scotland)
Goalscorers: Gobeljić 56' - Cavani 10', Neymar 40', Marquinhos 74', Mbappé 90+2'
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić, Stojković, Degenek, Rodić, Čaušić, Jovančić, Ben, Marin, Simić, Pavkov.
Substitutes: Popović, Jovičić, Ebecilio, Babić, Joveljić, Jevtović, Boakye.
Paris Saint-Germain: Buffon, Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Marquinhos, Verratti, Mbappé, Neymar, Di Maria, Cavani.
Substitutes: Areola, Meunier, Dani Alves, Choupo-Moting, Draxler, Rabiot, Diaby.
Crvena zvezda faced the star-studded French team in the final Champions League Group C match in front of a packed Rajko Mitić Stadium and it was quite an event.
Vladan Milojević's team largely picked itself, with captain Vujadin Savić still injured, midfielder Nenad Krstičič suspended and striker Richmond Boakye still not at a hundred percent. Marko Gobeljić started at right back, with Filip Stojković slotting in at centre back to partner Miloš Degenek.
The French champions seized control of the match from the get go and their initial pressure proved too much for Crvena zvezda, who were unable to prevent a swift move on 10 minutes which saw Mbappé square for Cavani to tap in and open the scoring.
Zvezda tried to compete with the much-fancied Paris side, but had difficulties holding on the ball as Thomas Tuchel's side enjoyed 69 percent of the possession in the first half.
That possesssion showed five minutes before the break when Neymar produced a fine solo effort, waltzed into the area and beat Borjan to make it 2-0.
Zvezda began the second half with a lot more attacking energy and created a few chances before Marko Gobeljić volleyed a Milan Rodić cross past Gianluigi Buffon to half the deficit and send the crowd wild.
However, the visitors' quality showed as the match wore on, and Marquinhos' thumping header on 74 minutes all but ended Crvena zvezda's hopes of salvaging something from this match.
Milan Borjan again performed heroics to keep PSG out, but a Kylian Mbappé strike deep into injury time proved unstoppable and the Parisians claimed a 4-1 win to qualify for the knockout stages.
Zvezda bow out of European competition in a campaign that will undoubtedly be remembered as a successful one. It's now up to everyone at the club to work hard and get us back into European cups again in the 2019/20 season.