PSG defeated Barcelona 4-2 at Parc des Princes on matchday three of the 2026-27 Champions League league phase. The Catalan side managed to equalize twice, but goals from Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz in the closing stages secured the win in Paris.
Désiré Doué opened the scoring with a shot from outside the box after Lamine Yamal lost the ball while playing out from the back. PSG capitalized on the turnover to attack quickly and went into halftime with the lead in a match that had already produced clear chances at both ends.
Barcelona responded after the break. Fermín found the pass into space for Xavi Espart, who ran into the box and beat Matvey Safonov. The visitors enjoyed a spell of greater control of the ball and had another chance through Gavi, whose shot was saved by the Parisian goalkeeper.
Lucas Hernández restored PSG’s lead with a header from a corner. Lamine equalized again after taking advantage of a poor clearance by Zaïre-Emery: he drove toward the box and finished at the near post. Barcelona had found a second response, but still had to withstand the home side’s pressure.
Vitinha and Fabián made the difference. The Portuguese midfielder collected a clearance outside the box and placed a well-aimed shot that Joan García managed to touch but could not keep out. Then Fabián arrived unmarked at the far post to finish off a move down the right and make it 4-2.
Barcelona’s two equalizers were not enough to earn a point away from home. PSG settled an open game with two different kinds of finish—a shot from outside the box and a run to the far post—and took all three points from this Champions League clash.
Image: Parc des Princes, the venue for the match, in a February 2018 file photo. Kilyac / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
