PLAYER RATINGS | Barcelona 1-2 PSG: Injury-hit Parisiens clinch injury-time Champions League statement win in Catalonia | OneFootball

Champions League, Matchday 2, 01/10/25

PSG have put an end to Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the season. Despite many absentees, the Champions League winners have ground out a remarkable three points against Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. Senny Mayulu and Gonçalo Ramos have cancelled out Ferran Torres’ opener.

The Match

Luis Enrique had to field a second-string attacking triumvirate as Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all missed the trip to Barcelona through injuries. PSG’s fitness issues deepened before a ball was even kicked with João Neves pulling out of the starting XI to be replaced by Warren Zaïre-Emery.

In the Portuguese’s absence, PSG notably struggled to contain Pedri’s influence. The midfield prodigy and Ballon d’Or winner Lamine Yamal were particularly keen to put on a show. The 18-year-old found Ferran Torres with an exquisite outside-of-the-boot pass for the Spaniard to round past Lucas Chevalier, but his goalward shot was denied at the death by Illia Zabarnyi.

Pedri and Yamal combined again when Vitinha uncharacteristically missed a predictable pass to Nuno Mendes. Pedri immediately alerted Marcus Rashford on PSG’s right side. The Englishman only needed a touch to find the unmarked Ferran Torres, played onside by Achraf Hakimi, who opened the scoring from close range.

Whilst Barcelona mounted wave after wave of sleek moves down Yamal’s right side, PSG regrouped and remained alert on the counter. They were pacy too, as shown by Nuno Mendes.

A couple of minutes after his strong run was clumsily halted by Frenkie de Jong, the Portuguese went with another bite of the cherry. This time, he completed a one-two with Ibrahim Mbaye before drifting infield and keeping his composure to find Senny Mayulu. The 19-year-old went on to wrong-foot Wojciech Szczęsny to restore parity.

The second half was way more balanced than the first, as both teams found defensive gaps. Barcola tested Szczęsny with a powerful but predictable effort. After the hour mark, Zabarnyi unintentionally fed Dani Olmo, whose effort was cleared off Lucas Chevalier’s line by Achraf Hakimi.

PSG have finished on a high, and Barcelona were on the ropes. Lee Kang-in rattled the post, but the best was yet to come. Vitinha spotted Achraf Hakimi, and the Moroccan had acres of space to run into. The tireless Moroccan right-back threaded an inch-perfect cross for Gonçalo Ramos to beat Szczęsny.

It was PSG’s toughest away draw in the Champions League, and Luis Enrique’s Parisiens have come away with all points on offer. The Ligue 1 side have put an end to Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the season and all but confirmed their credentials to go back-to-back on top of Europe.

PSG player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 6

Achraf Hakimi – 7

Illia Zabarnyi – 7

Willian Pacho – 6

Nuno Mendes – 8

The Portuguese’s reputation as the finest left-back in Europe can only be enhanced after tonight’s showing. He contained Lamine Yamal’s output and created PSG’s equaliser out of thin air. An impressive man of the match performance.

Warren Zaïre-Emery – 5

Vitinha – 6

Fabian Ruiz – 5

Ibrahim Mbaye – 4

The 17-year-old was given his first Champions League start with Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sidelined. The PSG Academy graduate is certainly talented and his workload was decent, but he remains raw. Replaced by Lucas Hernandez.

Senny Mayulu – 6

Bradley Barcola – 4

In the absence of Doué, Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia, the spotlight was very much on the France international to lead the Champions League winners. The Lyon Academy graduate was wasteful and didn’t lead by example. Meanwhile, Gonçalo Ramos only needed a touch to score.

Barcelona selected player ratings

Pedri – 6

Lamine Yamal – 5

Dani Olmo – 4

GFFN | Bastien Cheval