Barcelona defeat Paris FC 5-2 in Champions League opener with Graham Hansen and Pajor leading comeback

Early setback and response

Barcelona opened their UEFA Women's Champions League title defence on 23 September 2026 with a 5-2 win over Paris FC at the Estadi Johan Cruyff in front of 2,574 spectators. Manager Pere Romeu had to field a revised lineup due to numerous absences, missing Aitana Bonmati, Vicky Lopez, Kika Nazareth, Aleixandri, and Van Asten through injury, while Aicha and Carla Julia were absent due to the Under-20 World Cup in Poland. Paris FC capitalized on early defensive disorganization in the fourth minute when Canadian forward Evelyne Viens seized a turnover in midfield, held off Irene Paredes and Martina Fernandez, and lifted a shot past goalkeeper Cata Coll. Barcelona stabilized their passing immediately, attacking down the flanks with Esmee Brugts and Caroline Graham Hansen while Paris FC goalkeeper Mylene Chavas made stops. In the 18th minute, Claudia Pina threaded a precise pass between lines to Kerolin, who controlled with her right foot and scored her first goal for Barcelona since arriving as the club's record signing from Manchester City.

First-half turnaround

The home side pressed forward and took the lead ten minutes later from a rehearsed set-piece routine. In the 28th minute, Graham Hansen swung a corner kick deep toward the back post, allowing Clara Serrajordi to arrive completely unmarked from the edge of the area and finish with the inside of her right boot. Paris FC responded with three consecutive corners and a header from Manoly Baquerizo that clipped the crossbar, but Barcelona quickly regained territorial dominance. Polish referee Michalina Diakow turned down a penalty appeal after Sydney Schertenleib went down in the box, and Chavas denied another attempt from Graham Hansen. In the 35th minute, Patri Guijarro released Graham Hansen down the flank with a long ball, and the winger crossed low across the face of goal for Ewa Pajor to tap in from close range. Graham Hansen then made it 4-1 before halftime, maneuvering outside the penalty box before driving a low shot inside the post.

Second-half control and squad rotation

Paris FC adopted a more defensive posture in the second half to protect their goal difference in the league phase standings. Barcelona slowed the match tempo while managing physical concerns, particularly after Claudia Pina was substituted and seen in tears on the bench due to a knee knock suffered in the first half. Pere Romeu rotated his squad by introducing Lua Arufe and Marta Torrejon to manage the workload of the remaining first-team players. Barcelona extended their lead to 5-1 after Martina Fernandez won the ball back in defence, enabling Schertenleib to find Arufe with a backheel flick, whose cross to the far post allowed Pajor to complete her brace. Paris FC pulled one back through an isolated second-half attack to establish the final 5-2 scoreline, while Guijarro dropped deep between the central defenders to secure the remaining minutes.