In one of the most anticipated matches of the 2025/26 season, PSG visited Barcelona in Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League group phase.
Just a week after Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé beat Lamine Yamal to the Ballon d’Or, fans were eager to see a statement performance from the 18-year-old Spanish forward. However, it was PSG that further reinforced their position as the best team in the world currently.
PSG and Barcelona are among the heavy favourites to win the Champions League this season, but after Wednesday’s result, PSG clearly remains the team to beat.
Barcelona started the game well, with Yamal laying down an early marker by beating 3 PSG players down the right-hand side to create a chance in the first minute. In the first 20 minutes, Yamal tormented Nuno Mendez and PSG’s defence, and he also started the move that led to Barcelona’s goal after an unusual error from Vitinha.
After Barcelona’s goal, PSG adjusted their shape and almost immediately started causing Barcelona problems.
Nuno Mendes got a hold of Lamine Yamal and also started breaking Barcelona’s counter press to advance past their midfield — and that was exactly how PSG scored their equalizer. Nuno Mendez carried the ball from defence through Barca’s midfield and found Senny Mayulu, who placed the ball past Szczęsny.
The first half ended 1-1, and PSG continued to outplay Barcelona in the second half. They intensified the pressure as the match wore on. Substitute Lee Kang-In almost grabbed the winner with a curler that hit the bar.
Late Defensive Issues Haunt Barcelona Again
Barcelona escaped Lee Kang-in’e effort, but they inevitably succumbed to PSG’s immense pressure. Achraf Hakimi found Gonçalo Ramos late on with a pass beyond Barcelona’s high line, and the Portuguese striker scored the winner.
PSG won the match without key players like Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Marquinhos, and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé. This shows that Barcelona still has a way to go before they can win the Champions League and become the best team in Europe.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also acknowledged that his team were not on PSG’s level on Wednesday, especially defensively:
“With the score at 1-1, you have to defend better, have a better structure in the defence. We will learn this, and we have to make it better next time against this quality of team. There is no point in saying we are on the same level, but I believe in my team — today wasn’t our best day.”
“We train to get better and better, and this game today will help us a lot, also for the future. The whole team has to defend, the whole team has to attack. The philosophy that they (PSG) have is fantastic. They have young players, they have high quality and speed on the ball, very, very good.”
While experts and fans will still consider Barcelona as one of the favourites for this season’s Champions League trophy, they have to be able to stay in games with quality opponents like PSG.
Barca’s defensive frailties cost them a place in the UEFA Champions League final back in May, so they must improve in that area if they do not want to suffer yet another heartbreak in the knockout rounds this season, especially against tough opponents like Arsenal, Bayern and PSG.
