Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain stunned Barcelona with a 90th-minute Gonçalo Ramos winner to claim a 2-1 away victory in the league stage on Wednesday, October 1. Ferran Torres sent hosts Barcelona ahead with a cool finish but Senny Mayulu fired a depleted PSG level before half-time.
“After scoring the (first) goal we got a confidence boost and in the second half we were better,” Luis Enrique told reporters. “I’m happy… because it’s an important victory and playing against Barcelona is always difficult.”
It was an even and thoroughly entertaining bout between two of the competition’s favorites at Olympic Stadium, which was eventually settled by Ramos’ late strike, as PSG exploited Barça’s high defensive line. Hansi Flick selected Torres over veteran striker Robert Lewandowski and also benched Ronald Araujo for Eric Garcia, after the Uruguayan’s red card against PSG in 2024. It was lacking several key players and his team held on at times but eventually got the better of last season’s semi-finalists.
Barcelona and PSG have not been on the best of terms over the past decade, with the Catalans recording one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the game in 2017 with a 6-1 win over the Parisians. PSG snatching Neymar and going on to sign all-time Barça great Lionel Messi worsened relations, starting an enthralling battle with PSG’s left-back.
The defender shut him down for Portugal in the Nations League in the summer and managed to dispossess the winger in the box a few minutes later to strike back in their individual tussle. Yamal created the first clear chance with a sensational pass using the outside of his boot to send Torres through.
Barcelona took the lead in the 19th minute after Yamal and Pedri combined quickly and Torres slotted home from Marcus Rashford’s quick first-time pass. On loan from Manchester United, Rashford has created goals in each of his last four Barcelona appearances. After half an hour PSG started to grow into the game and forced Wojciech Szczęsny into his first save, tipping Achraf Hakimi’s free-kick around the post.
Marauding Mendes
After half an hour, PSG started to be felled by a desperate Frenkie de Jong. It showed the defender’s pace was the best way to hurt Barça and Mendes repeated the trick to set up the equalizer.
Mendes ripped into Barça territory and Pau Cubarsí misjudged a lunge to try and cut out his pass for 19-year-old striker Mayulu, who beat Szczesny from just inside the area in the 38th minute.
Mendes gave Yamal a solid save either side of the interval as the European champions clicked into a higher gear. PSG were fortunate Mendes was not issued a second yellow for felling Yamal in full flow on the edge of the box as the pendulum swung back the other way.
Dani Olmo’s shot was cleared off the line by Hakimi and PSG’s Kang-in Lee curled against the post as the clock ticked down in an even second half. Eventually, Ramos grabbed three points for PSG as he stayed onside to collect Hakimi’s pass, after the Moroccan got in behind Barça’s defense, and tapped home.