"Champions of Europe"... Barcelona's loss to Paris Saint-Germain

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain of France cemented their dominance over Spanish side Barcelona with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes in Paris, in Matchday 3 of the unified group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain’s goals were scored by Desire Doue (38'), Luca Hernandez (72'), Portuguese midfielder Vitinha (81'), and Spanish forward Fabian Ruiz (86'). Barcelona’s goals came from Chavi Sbert (55') and Lamine Yamal (79').

The win marks Paris Saint-Germain’s third consecutive victory across three stages of the prestigious continental competition this season. It is also their third straight win over the Catalan club in the tournament, and their second in their last five home matches against Barcelona at the Parc des Princes (one draw and two losses).

Paris Saint-Germain strengthened their position at the top of the unified group, adding Barcelona to their list of victims, following their own valuable 2-2 draw with English side Manchester City in Matchday 2.

In contrast, Barcelona suffered their first defeat after two consecutive wins, and their first loss in 12 matches across all competitions this season. The loss comes ahead of their traditional rival Real Madrid in the upcoming La Liga Clásico next Sunday.

Paris Saint-Germain were the better side at the start of the match, coming close to scoring in three chances within the first five minutes following powerful shots from Georgian international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia that hit the right post (2'), as well as efforts from Ousmane Dembélé and Desire Doue (5').

Barcelona’s first and most dangerous chance came from a powerful shot by Dani Olmo from outside the box that went just wide of the left post (14').

Paris Saint-Germain suffered a blow when Dembélé sustained a left thigh muscle injury and was substituted for former Barcelona player Ferran Torres (20').

Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov saved his team from conceding by stopping a close-range shot from Brazilian winger Raphinha from six yards out (21').

Ferran Torres missed an opening opportunity after receiving a header from Portuguese international Vitinha at close range, shooting right-footed, but goalkeeper Joan García made the save (26').

Barcelona also suffered a setback when Dani Olmo was injured and replaced by Fermín López (26').

García continued his impressive performance by saving two close-range shots from Torres and Fabian Ruiz, with an effort from Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi deflected away by Pedri on its way to goal (29').

Kvaratskhelia fired a powerful shot from inside the box that went straight into García’s hands (31').

Doue gave Paris Saint-Germain the lead in the 38th minute, capitalizing on a headed clearance by Portuguese international João Neves off Lamine Yamal, who then shot right-footed from outside the box into the right side of the net past García.

López missed a chance to equalize when he received a ball behind the defense from Pedri, drove into the box, and played a low pass that Safonov pushed away, only for the ball to fall back to him. His follow-up attempt hit Ecuadorian defender William Pacho’s head before being cleared by captain Marquinhos (40').

García saved Barcelona from a second goal by deflecting a powerful long-range shot from Kvaratskhelia (44'), followed by another from Hakimi from inside the box (51').

Sbert equalized for Barcelona after a brief exchange with López, who drove into the box and fired a powerful right-footed shot into the net (55').

Paris Saint-Germain’s troubles increased when Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos were injured, making way for Magnin Akliouche and Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi (59').

Gavi, the substitute for Pedri, missed a chance to give Barcelona the lead when he received a perfect pass from Yamal inside the box and shot powerfully right-footed, but Safonov pushed it away before the defense cleared it (61').

The left post denied Torres from scoring with a close-range shot following a pass from Hakimi (72').

Hernandez restored Paris Saint-Germain’s lead...

Dowie (72) headed in from a corner kick. Barcelona equalized when Jamal benefited from a mistake by Warren Zaïre-Emery, dribbled into the box, and fired the ball into the net with the inside of his left foot (79). But Barcelona’s joy lasted only two minutes, as Vitinha capitalized on a ball cleared by Gerard Martin, heading it in from a cross from Hakimi, and drove it powerfully with his right foot past the left side of goalkeeper Garcia (81). Then, Reus delivered the final blow to Hansi Flick’s side by scoring the third goal after a pass from Hakimi (86).