6 goals, 4 injuries: PSG overcome Barcelona in furious Champions League clash in Paris

Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 in a frenetic UEFA Champions League clash at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday 21 October. The game had everything attacking football at the highest level could offer, with both teams combining for 40 shots in an end-to-end battle.

Desire Doue was the standout player as PSG overcame Hansi Flick’s Barcelona in a game that spilled from one end to the other. Barcelona looked stunning in spells but struggled to maintain their dominance against a versatile PSG side who punished their mistakes.

The high-intensity match also took a physical toll as four players were forced to withdraw due to injury. PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos suffered hamstring injuries in the first and second half respectively. Barcelona’s Dani Olmo was substituted in the first half after falling awkwardly with a severe shoulder problem in midfield. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also had to withdraw in the second half after sustaining an ankle injury in a challenge with Barcelona right-back Xavi Espart. Courtesy: Reuters

Both teams created chances in an entertaining first half, but Barcelona’s poor final passing let them down in the opening stages. PSG, meanwhile, had more attempts on goal, including several from close range, but the valiant Joan Garcia made several saves to keep Barcelona in the game.

Barcelona repeatedly cut through PSG’s defense with their slippery passing, Pedri pulling the strings in the center of the midfield. However, the movement in the final third between Anthony Gordon, Raphinha and Lamin Yamal lacked perfection. Gordon endured a particularly tough outing, struggling to get past defenders, convert chances or provide the incisive passes Barcelona needed.

The deadlock was finally broken late in the first half when Doue cut inside onto his right foot and fired a low shot between two Barcelona defenders. Garcia, excellent up to that point, had a bad foot and was unable to prevent PSG from taking the lead. Courtesy: Reuters

Barcelona responded after the break, finding the equalizer in the 55th minute after weaving through PSG’s defense with a series of passes. Teenager Xavi Espart took matters into his own hands, bursting into the frame and unleashing a powerful close-range shot past PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, whose earlier saves had kept the French side in the match.

The game, which was already being played at a ferocious pace, found another gear. Lucas Hernandez rose to head home from a corner to restore PSG’s lead, but Lamine Yamal responded almost immediately. The Barcelona teenager dribbled into the PSG box, beat his mark and finished from close range to make it 2-2.

As Barcelona seemed to gain the upper hand, PSG struck twice to take control. Vitinha scored with an outside shot before Fabian Ruiz reached the far post to turn the ball over to extend the visitors’ lead to 4-2 and leave Barcelona with too much to do.

FLICK ADMITS MISTAKES

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted his side made too many mistakes against a PSG side who took their chances.

“We made too many mistakes in this game, with possession, easy turnovers,” Flick said. “It was a great test for us, today you saw in which areas we need to improve to make things better.”

Flick also said that Rodri, who was left on the bench at the start of the game, will start against Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season on Sunday.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: OTHER RESULTS

Eighteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha played a major role in Liverpool’s comeback, setting up goals for Ronaldo Araujo, Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz.

Liverpool trailed 2-0 after a scrappy start that saw captain Virgil van Dijk raise his hands in apology after his wayward header allowed Georges Mikautadze to score for Villarreal.

Manchester City bounced back from defeat by PSG with a slick 5-1 win against AEK Athens with top scorer Erling Haaland on the bench. Phil Foden scored a hat-trick and was man of the match at the end of a wide-ranging attack with his second goal.

Atlético Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Stuttgart with 10 men, thwarting the German underdog’s bid to join PSG and Liverpool on nine points.

Julian Alvarez’s goal for Atletico canceled out Jamie Leweling’s play as midfielder Morten Hjulman recklessly tackled Angel Stiller from behind, leaving Atletico holding on.

MCTOMINAY scored in Napoli’s win

Scott McTominay scored his first two goals of the season to help Napoli beat Bodo/Glimt 4-3 and ease the pressure on coach Massimiliano Allegri.

McTominay, who also hit, missed a month of the season after undergoing surgery in early September to treat an irregular heartbeat.

Serhou Guirassy scored twice but Borussia Dortmund missed plenty of other chances in a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan’s Sabah.

It wasn’t the convincing win the German side had hoped for after last week’s defeat to Bodo/Glimt, followed by a draw at Union Berlin that saw Bayern Munich move top of the Bundesliga ahead of Dortmund.

Pavel Kacor’s diving volley in the 90th minute earned Slavia Prague a 2-2 draw with Fenerbahce, who led 2-0 at the start, before Matto Guendouzi brought the Czech side back into the game on the defensive.

PSV won 1-0 against Porto, who fell to their third defeat. Roma went on to win 4:0 over Slovan Bratislava.

– The end