FC Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season after Paris Saint-Germain sealed a dramatic 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League.
The clash between two European giants lived up to its billing full of intensity, flair, and late drama. Barcelona dominated possession in the first half, with teenage star Lamine Yamal once again impressing down the right wing. However, PSG’s resilience and tactical discipline under Luis Enrique, a former Barça manager, proved decisive in the end.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Barça in the 52nd minute, finishing calmly after a perfect through ball from Pedri. But PSG responded with relentless pressure, and their persistence paid off when Ousmane Dembélé, facing his former club, equalized with a powerful strike in the 74th minute.
The game’s turning point came deep into stoppage time when Gonçalo Ramos connected with a Kylian Mbappé assist to score the winner, sparking wild celebrations in Paris.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández admitted his side were punished for losing focus in the closing stages:
“We controlled large parts of the match, but in Europe, one small mistake can cost you everything. PSG were clinical — that’s the difference at this level.”
The defeat ends Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the 2025–26 season, but there were still positives especially the return of Jules Koundé, who added stability to the back line after injury.
For PSG, the victory sends a strong message to the rest of Europe. They now lead the group, while Barça will need to regroup quickly ahead of their weekend La Liga clash.
Leave a comment