Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, with late goals from Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz settling a Champions League match that had been level at 2-2, according to Al Jazeera.
Vitinha put the hosts ahead for good in the 81st minute, chesting the ball down just outside the penalty area and driving it in. Ruiz then added a fourth from close range to complete PSG's third win in three matches in this season's competition.
The result ends Barcelona's run of 11 straight victories in all competitions since the start of the campaign. Al Jazeera reports that the Catalan side had travelled to the French capital unbeaten this season.
Why it matters
PSG are chasing a third consecutive Champions League title, and the win keeps them on a perfect record in the league phase. Al Jazeera describes the two clubs as among the leading contenders for this season's trophy, which gives the result weight beyond the three points.
For Barcelona, the loss is a setback but, as Al Jazeera notes, not one expected to seriously damage their chances of progressing in the competition. Their attention now turns quickly to Sunday's Clasico against Real Madrid at home, where a win would put them nine points clear of their rivals in La Liga.
An open game that swung both ways
PSG nearly took the lead inside the opening 90 seconds when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the post. Their evening then took a blow: Ousmane Dembélé, last year's Ballon d'Or winner, pulled up with a hamstring injury and came off after 20 minutes, with Ferran Torres replacing him against the club he left in the summer.
Barcelona also lost Dani Olmo to injury as the match was repeatedly interrupted. Al Jazeera reports that it is not yet clear how serious the injuries to Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia, who also went off hurt, turn out to be.
The deadlock broke in the 38th minute after Lamine Yamal gave the ball away in his own half. It reached Désiré Doué, who worked space with his feet and shot low into the bottom corner from just outside the area. Al Jazeera judged PSG deserved their interval lead.
Barcelona levelled early in the second half. Fermín López played in Xavi Espart, who drove into the box and scored his second senior goal. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, came on soon after, having been left on the bench at kickoff — a decision Al Jazeera links to Barcelona's looming meeting with Real Madrid. Raphinha, meanwhile, returned to the starting lineup after a recent spell out.
The game grew stretched. Torres hit the post for PSG before Lucas Hernandez headed them back in front from a corner. Hernandez had been brought in to mark Yamal with regular left-back Nuno Mendes unavailable, and the goal was his third in more than 100 appearances for the club and his first since February 2024.
Luis Enrique substituted Hernandez shortly afterwards, and his replacement, Warren Zaire-Emery, was caught under a high ball. Yamal ran clear and stabbed in Barcelona's second equaliser — his 10th goal of the campaign and the club's 50th of the season in all competitions, per Al Jazeera.
That set up the closing stretch, which Vitinha and Ruiz turned PSG's way. Doué, who opened the scoring, drew particular praise from Al Jazeera as the standout performer on the night.
Familiar opponents, different outcome
Tuesday's match was the 14th Champions League meeting between the clubs in 13 years. PSG arrived having won 4-2 at Manchester City the previous week and have now won seven in a row across Ligue 1 and Europe.
Barcelona's scoring form has been a feature of their season despite the loss, and Yamal, who is hoping to win this year's Ballon d'Or, remains central to it. Al Jazeera reports that the defeat is unlikely to derail their European campaign, though the manner of it — conceding twice after equalising — will sting.
For PSG, the concern is fitness rather than form. Losing two senior attackers in one match leaves Luis Enrique waiting on medical assessments, with the club's depth set to be tested in the weeks ahead.
Barcelona host Real Madrid on Sunday, while PSG's Champions League campaign continues with their perfect record intact.
