PSG beat Barcelona 4-2 as Doué and Vitinha spark Parc des Princes thriller

PSG 4-2 Barcelona: Champions League Match Report

Paris Saint-Germain finished 4-2 winners over Barcelona in a light, open and frictionless exhibition-style Champions League clash at the Parc des Princes, ending the Catalan side’s perfect start to the season.

PSG players celebrate at Parc des Princes against Barcelona

The game was played against a backdrop of civil unrest in Paris, with the interior minister ruling out postponement ahead of kick-off. “Debris! Debris! DEBRIS!” the announcer screamed into his mic before kick-off, as a vast tifo showed a ghoulish PSG serial killer type attacking the Barcelona badge with a blood-soaked chainsaw.

Early chances and first half

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona faced an elite team that plays with studied disregard for positional defensive play. PSG should have scored inside a minute when a quick passing move from right to left put Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in space, his shot pinged off a post and back to an offside Ousmane Dembélé who shinned wide of an open goal.

Pedri and Marc Bernal took time to settle for Barça. Bernal, a 19-year-old La Masia product, and Pedri glided through the occasion as Dani Olmo made surging deep runs and Anthony Gordon threatened on the left. João Cancelo was booked with 16 minutes gone for a lunge on Désiré Doué, and two minutes later Dembélé was forced off injured, replaced by Ferran Torres.

Raphinha had a close-range effort blocked by Matvey Safonov after a pass from Gordon, and PSG had three shots blocked or saved in six seconds on 28 minutes, Joan García saving brilliantly low down.

PSG deservedly took the lead on 37 minutes. Lamine Yamal tried a clever chipped clearance, João Neves claimed the ball back and it fell to Doué, who jinked inside and shot low inside the post. Kvaratskhelia was running up and down the gears on the left as Barcelona were overrun in midfield by the break.

Second half swings

The second half remained mobile and relentless. Doué forced another fine close-range save from Safonov after being played in by Vitinha.

Barcelona equalised on 54 minutes through 19-year-old Xavi Espart. The Catalan youth player galloped through the left side of the PSG defence and smashed a shot in off the hands of Safonov for his first in Europe. The PA announcer gave the goal to Lamine Yamal for branding purposes, but it was Espart’s.

Flick made a triple change, introducing Gavi, Rodri and Karim Adeyemi, while PSG lost Marquinhos and Kvaratskhelia to injury. Rodri briefly steadied Barcelona, dominating possession and territory.

PSG struck again through Lucas Hernandez. Doué sliced open the right hand side and crossed for Fabián Ruiz to hit the post from six yards. From the resulting corner Hernandez was given space to leap and produce a wonderful finish, thumped off the meaty part of the forehead high into the top corner.

Barça responded immediately to make it 2-2 in the 79th minute. Lamine Yamal beat substitute Warren Zaire-Emery down the right and flicked the ball high past Safonov with the outside of his boot.

The lead was restored two minutes later. Vitinha chested a clearance down from outside the penalty area and unleashed an excellent shot that flew past Joan García.

Barcelona players react after PSG goal at Parc des Princes

Fabián Ruiz added a fourth four minutes from the end as Achraf Hakimi caused problems down the right and sent in a cross which reached Ruiz at the far post to finish the contest.

The result ends Barcelona’s perfect start to the Champions League season and underlines PSG’s thrilling attacking energy in midweek A-games and the frailty of Barcelona’s backline in transition.