Paris Saint-Germain secured a 4:2 victory over FC Barcelona in the third round of the UEFA Champions League at the Parc des Princes, with late goals from Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz sealing the result for the titleholders.

Early Injuries Force Tactical Shifts in Paris

The high-profile encounter began with physical blows for both sides inside the opening half-hour. Paris lost Ousmane Dembélé to an injury early on, prompting the introduction of Ferran Torres from the bench. Just minutes later, Barcelona suffered a significant personnel loss when Dani Olmo dropped to the turf in pain after 27 minutes. Olmo’s exit came with Barcelona five days away from a league Clásico against Real Madrid. Fermín López replaced Olmo, and the resulting disruption left Hansi Flick’s visiting side momentarily disorganized.

Désiré Doué Breaks the Deadlock Before the Break

Capitalizing on Barcelona’s temporary disarray, Paris pressed forward as the first half drew to a close. Following buildup play orchestrated by João Neves, Désiré Doué sliced through the visitor’s defensive lines and slotted home to put the French hosts ahead 1:0. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal had blundered during the buildup, carelessly chipping a ball in his own half that allowed Neves to head possession toward Doué for the opening strike. The Spanish television program El Chiringuito criticized the sequence, with host Josep Pedrerol questioning the decision to play short passes near their own penalty area.

A Wild Second-Half Exchange Level Terms

Barcelona emerged from the interval with renewed intensity and instantly leveled the score. Xavi Espart punished the home defense in the 55th minute, converting a pass from Fermín López to make it 1:1, though the shot past goalkeeper Matvey Safonov was not entirely unstoppable. Paris responded when Lucas Hernandez connected with a precise corner kick from Doué, powering a header to restore a 2:1 lead in the 72nd minute. The advantage proved fleeting; just moments later, Lamine Yamal won a footrace against substitute Warren Zaïre-Emery and surprised Safonov with a high shot from a sharp angle into the near corner, bringing Barcelona level at 2:2. The strike marked Yamal’s tenth goal of the season across 12 official matches.

Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz Deliver the Final Blow

Parity lasted only two minutes before Paris reclaimed control in the closing stages. In the 81st minute, Gerard Martín cleared a cross from the right out of the penalty area, but Vitinha pounced on the loose ball outside the box. The midfielder struck a powerful volley from 18 meters out into the right corner to make it 3:2. Four minutes later, Achraf Hakimi set up Fabián Ruiz, who calmly tapped in from close range to secure the 4:2 final scoreline. The victory extends PSG’s unbeaten run in the Champions League to 13 matches, equaling a club record set during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 campaigns, while also marking their seventh win across all competitions. Alongside the triumph, Paris endured further injury concerns as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos joined Dembélé on the sidelines.

Earlier Misses and Record Watch

Before the scoring opened, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the goalpost for Paris in the 2nd minute, while Barcelona squandered chances through Dani Olmo, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal. The defeat marked the first setback for Barcelona after eleven consecutive wins across all competitions under coach Hansi Flick, who is still awaiting his 100th victory in charge of the Spanish side.