Credited from: REUTERS
In a thrilling encounter, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) marked their defense of the Champions League title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Barcelona. Falling behind early to a goal from Ferran Torres, PSG rallied to secure the win with a last-minute strike from substitute Gonçalo Ramos, showcasing their resilience despite numerous injuries to key players, according to Al Jazeera, Le Monde, and Reuters.
Barcelona, benefitting from the return of 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, took control early in the match. The young player provided a quick pass to Marcus Rashford, who assisted Torres for the opening goal in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a high defensive line from PSG. Despite putting pressure on PSG, the hosts could not maintain their lead as the match progressed and their defense faltered under sustained attacks, according to Al Jazeera, Le Monde, and Reuters.
PSG's response was robust, illustrated by Nuno Mendes' impressive run leading to the equalizer in the 38th minute. Mendes beat several defenders before assisting 19-year-old striker Senny Mayulu, who calmly finished to level the game. Throughout the second half, PSG looked more dangerous, consistently testing Barcelona's defense, which struggled to adapt to their pace and offensive dynamics, according to Al Jazeera, Le Monde, and Reuters.
The game ultimately turned in favor of PSG late on, as Kang-in Lee hit the post before Ramos secured the win by converting a cross from Achraf Hakimi in the 90th minute. This victory solidified PSG's dominance in their Champions League Group following their earlier 4-0 triumph over Atalanta and marked their third consecutive victory over Barcelona in recent meetings, according to Al Jazeera, Le Monde, and Reuters.