Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League night in Barcelona belonged to Senny Mayulu and Goncalo Ramos, whose goals sealed a 2-1 win against the Spanish side. Missing Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, PSG leaned on other stars and relentless pressing to stun the Catalans and Luis Enrique labelled three of those players as 'the best in the world', showing his side has the spirit and belief to challenge Europe’s elite.
PSG's comeback victory against Barcelona
PSG secured a dramatic 2-1 Champions League win over Barcelona, with goals from Mayulu and a last-minute winner by Ramos. Nuno Mendes played a crucial role, providing the assist for Mayulu’s equaliser, while Achraf Hakimi’s pace and delivery set up Ramos’ decisive goal. Vitinha recovered well after a shaky start, contributing to PSG’s strong second-half performance that saw them come from behind to claim victory at Barcelona’s home ground. Manager Enrique expressed his happiness with the win, going as far as to say he has the three best players in the world in Mendes, Hakimi, and Vitinha, despite injury setbacks to Ballon d’Or winner Dembele and winger Doue.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportPSG boss impressed with his team's performance
Energised by the team's performance, the coach was effusive in his praise, particularly for his defence and midfield. In a post-match interview, he reaffirmed a strong belief that Vitinha is, alongside Pedri, the finest midfielder in world football.
"What is clear is that, along with Pedri, Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world," he said before adding: "Nuno Mendes and Hakimi? They are the two best full-backs in the world without a doubt. They are capable of anything."
Speaking on the strength and character of his players, the PSG head coach said: "Against Barca, it's difficult not to panic, but you have to know how to adapt. Last year, we overcame many difficulties, and today, we proved it again. It continues. We played with 17 or 18-year-olds, and it's fantastic. We still believe in ourselves."
Barcelona manager admits his team wasn't on par with PSG
Barca coach Hansi Flick was candid in his assessment of the defeat, congratulating Enrique's side and acknowledging the quality of the team PSG have built. He explained that Barca's issues stemmed from a lack of consistency and fatigue.
Flick claimed that his team performed significantly better in the first half but "dissolved" after the 30-minute mark when PSG took control.
"We conceded a lot because we were tired," he admitted. He offered high praise for the opposition, recognising PSG as a "great team" with "very young, fresh players" operating at a high level. Flick concluded that PSG "deserved the win, and we have to congratulate them".
Getty Images SportPSG head back to league action
PSG will now face Lille in their next league outing on October 5. With the team in good form and the player clicking well-together, despite the absence of Dembele and Doue, the Parisian's will enter the game in high spirits before the international break kicks in.