Paris Saint-Germain, who are currently defending their title, defeated Barcelona 2-1 on Wednesday with a 90-minute winner over the Goncalo Ramos.
Barcelona were leading thanks to a cool finish from Ferran Torres, but before half-time, Senny Mayulu fired a depleted PSG level.
At the Olympic stadium, two of the competition’s favorites squared off in an even and thoroughly entertaining match, which PSG exploited Barca’s powerful defensive line to finally settle with Ramos’ late strike.
After Ronald Araujo was sent off against PSG in 2024, Hansi Flick chose Torres over veteran striker Robert Lewandowski.
Luis Enrique, who won the treble with Barcelona in 2015, struggled with several key players, and his team struggled at times to defeat the semi-finalists of last year.
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Barcelona and PSG haven’t had the best of terms in the past ten years, with Barcelona recording one of the best comebacks in the game’s history in 2017 with a 6-1 victory over the Parisians.
Although Luis Enrique’s approach and a number of injuries left the visitors without-star names on their return to Catalonia, PSG’s acquisition of Neymar and the signing of legendary Barca great Lionel Messi worsened relations.
Despite being unsure in the lead-up to the game, PSG midfielders Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz were fit to start despite disappointments, including Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and his regular attacking partners Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue all missed out.
Lamine Yamal, a star of Barca right off the bat, was trying to prove a point. Dembele finished second, and the teen began making his case for the award next year.
As a statement of intent, Yamal pirouetted away from two defenders and struck Nuno Mendes, launching a thrilling battle with PSG’s left-back.
The defender shut him down for Portugal in the summer and was successful in disposing the winger in the box a few minutes later to equalize in their individual tussle.
Torres was given the first clear chance by Yamal, who made the sensational pass through his boot.
Lucas Chevalier’s goalkeeper was rounded by the Spaniard, but Illia Zabarnyi slid in to stop his goal-bound effort.
After Yamal and Pedri quickly combined, Barcelona took the lead in the 19th minute, when Torres slotted home from Marcus Rashford’s quick first-time lead.
Rashford has scored in each of his last four goals for Barcelona while on loan from Manchester United.
After a half-hour, PSG grew on top of the game and forced Wojciech Szczesny to score with a free-kick from Achraf Hakimi around the post.
Marauding Mendes,  
Mendes cut through Barcelona players before fatally shooting Yamal in the foot before cutting through the youngster before being shot by a desperate Frenkie de Jong.
Mendes repeated the error to give Barca the lead in the equalizer and the defense’s pace was shown to be the best way to hurt the defender.
Mendes slammed into Barca territory before Pau Cubarsi’s error caused Mayulu, a 19-year-old striker, to intercept his pass from just inside the area. Szczesny was then beat by Szczesny in the 38th minute.
As the European champions climbed into a higher gear, Bradley Barcola nearly fired over, forcing Szczesny into a solid save either side of the break.
PSG were fortunate that Mendes was spared a second yellow after striking Yamal in full flow on the box’s edge as the pendulum swung back the other way.
As the clock ran out in a goalless second half, PSG’s Kang-in Lee curled against the post while Dani Olmo’s shot was cleared off the line by Hakimi.
After the Moroccan stepped in behind Barca’s defense and tapped home, Ramos eventually scored three points for PSG as he stayed onside to collect Hakimi’s pass.
Source: Channels TV
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