flag
back Back
Doue stars as PSG beat Barcelona in thriller
Desire Doue
Image caption, After failing to score in his first seven games in all competitions this season, Doue has scored in each of his past three appearances
Alex Brotherton

BBC Sport journalist

Desire Doue, Lamine Yamal and Vitinha scored superb individual goals as Champions League holders Paris St-Germain overcame Barcelona in a breathless encounter at Parc des Princes.

After starring in PSG's victory against Manchester City last week, Doue opened the scoring in the 38th minute in a half that saw both sides miss several clear chances.

Teenage full-back Xavi Espart drew Barcelona level early in the second half with a rifled near-post effort, before PSG defender Lucas Hernandez powered in a towering header.

Lamine Yamal made it 2-2 with a genius near-post finish, but less than two minutes later Vitinha sent a volley into the bottom corner to reclaim the lead for PSG.

Fabian Ruiz put the result beyond doubt five minutes later by converting Achraf Hakimi's low cross at the back post, in a win that ends Barcelona's 11-match unbeaten run at the start of their season.

The Parisians had wasted little time in implementing their high-pressing gameplan to force Barcelona into several mistakes in the early stages.

The game was 79 seconds old when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the foot of the post after Pedri was dispossessed, before Doue and Ousmane Dembele were denied by Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia following high turnovers.

It was then Barcelona's turn to launch their own rapid attacks, but Raphinha could only fire straight at Matvey Safonov in the PSG goal after running on to a neat Anthony Gordon pass.

Garcia had a busy end to the half as he twice denied former Barcelona team-mate Ferran Torres - who replaced the injured Dembele - but the goalkeeper could do nothing about Doue's opener.

After PSG intercepted a Barca ball out from defence, Doue drove to the edge of the penalty area and rifled a low shot into the bottom left corner.

Minutes before half-time Fermin Lopez was thwarted in a one-on-one situation by Safonov, but 10 minutes into the second half Espart, 19, beat the Russian goalkeeper at his near post after bursting into the box.

Barcelona were starting to look the more likely side to claim a winner, but, moments after Torres hit the post following a quick counter, Hernandez planted a header past Garcia from a corner.

Out of nothing, Lamine Yamal then turned Warren Zaire-Emery, sprinted into the box and squeezed the ball in between Safonov and the post.

Just as the momentum looked to have swung in Barca's favour, Vitinha controlled a clearance with his chest before launching a stunning volley into the bottom corner, before Ruiz put the seal on an exhilirating match.

PSG have nine points and will next face Villarreal in Spain on Tuesday, 3 November (20:00 BST).

Barcelona remain on six points and will host Aston Villa at Camp Nou at the same time.

How to play

Rate players out of 10 for this game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle. You must be signed in to a BBC account to play.

1 Give it up

10 Pure perfection

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

You may like

Liverpool fight back in seven-goal Champions League thriller, PSG sink Barcelona, Man City win

straitstimes.com 2 godziny temu

Barnet 1-3 Swindon

skysports.com 1 godzina temu

Wolves 1-1 Portsmouth: Terry Devlin strikes late to earn point for Pompey

skysports.com 2 godziny temu

Linfield fight back for victory at Larne

aol.com 2 godziny temu

Doncaster 0-2 Stockport

skysports.com 2 godziny temu

Rochdale 2-2 Grimsby

skysports.com 1 godzina temu

Notts County 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday

skysports.com 2 godziny temu

York 1-1 Accrington

skysports.com 1 godzina temu

Burton 0-0 Bradford

skysports.com 2 godziny temu

Guirassy scores twice as Dortmund beat Sabah

bbc.com 12 godzin temu