Doué, Espart and a late PSG run

Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 on Tuesday, 20 October, in the third matchday of the Champions League league phase at the Parc des Princes. Désiré Doué gave the hosts the lead in the 38th minute with a strike from outside the penalty area, and PSG led 1-0 at half-time. Xavi Espart equalised for Barcelona in the 55th minute, and Lucas Hernández put PSG back in front in the 72nd. Lamine Yamal levelled again in the 79th minute, but Vitinha (81st) and Fabián Ruiz (86th) scored the goals that decided the match. The sequence of goals is shown below.

Barcelona's shaky start

Barcelona were under pressure from the opening minutes. Within two minutes, two Barcelona possession losses led to a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot that hit the woodwork, and a later Ousmane Dembélé follow-up was ruled offside. Pedri had a shot on goal in the seventh minute, and Pau Cubarsí's header from the corner forced Matvey Safonov into the first save of the match. Joan García kept Barcelona in the game, and AD credits him with ten saves, although he could not stop four shots. Citing Opta, AD reported that Barcelona conceded ten shots on target in the first half, the most since at least the 2003/04 season.

PSG also lost players to problems during the match. Europa Press and AD describe Dembélé leaving the pitch, with Ferran Torres coming on for him in the 20th minute. EL PAÍS reports that Dani Olmo lasted 26 minutes on the pitch before he was replaced. Barcelona stayed level for most of the second half before PSG's late goals settled the result.

Flick and Luis Enrique react

Hansi Flick said after the match that the game had been a fantastic contest for both sides, but that Barcelona had made too many mistakes in possession and cheap turnovers that needed to be analysed. He said the team was not fresh after recent weeks and that PSG had been the better side on the night. Flick also said that titles are not won in October and that the Champions League is decided in June. Rodri started on the bench, ahead of Barcelona's clásico against Real Madrid on Sunday. Spanish sports newspapers described PSG as the favourites to retain the trophy, and one described the French side as playing at a different level.

Standings and other results

PSG have won all three of their league phase matches and lead the table, according to LaSexta, while Barcelona have six points. Elsewhere, Villarreal lost 4-3 at Liverpool after leading 2-0, and Atlético drew 1-1 at Stuttgart, with Julián Álvarez scoring his first goal of the season, according to EL PAÍS. Real Madrid host Leipzig and Betis play Feyenoord, both at 21:00 on Wednesday, 21 October.