PSG beat Barcelona 4-2 in Champions League after three goals in eight late minutes

A late burst decides it

Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 on Tuesday in a Champions League group-stage match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, according to NBC Sports and Al Jazeera. NBC Sports described PSG, the defending champions, as having pulled away late after Barcelona stayed in the game. ^{[1] [2]}

Désiré Doué gave PSG the lead in the 38th minute. Barcelona right back Xavi Espart, a 19-year-old La Masia graduate, equalised in the 55th minute on his first full Champions League appearance, NBC Sports reported. Lucas Hernández put PSG back in front in the 72nd minute with a header from a corner, Al Jazeera said. NBC Sports names the scorer as Lucas Hernández in its match entry but as Theo Hernández in its summary, so the first name rests on Al Jazeera's account and the pre-match line-up. ^{[1] [2] [4]}

Yamal levelled at 2-2 at around the 80th minute; the two outlets give 79 and 80. Vitinha restored the lead a minute or two later, and Ruiz made it 4-2 at around the 86th or 87th minute, with Al Jazeera crediting Achraf Hakimi with the assist. Al Jazeera also reported that Ferran Torres hit the post shortly before Hernández scored. Neither outlet reported a red card. ^{[1] [2]}

Injuries and the table

NBC Sports reported that Dembélé and Barcelona's Dani Olmo both came off injured before Doué's goal. A live blog from Vavel, captured at half-time, put Dembélé's replacement in the 20th minute and said he felt pain while running to challenge for the ball. None of the sources reviewed describes the injury or gives a timeline for his return. ^{[1] [3]}

The result leaves PSG top of the group-stage table with nine points from three matches, and NBC Sports put their goal difference at plus nine. Al Jazeera reported that Liverpool also have nine points after beating Villarreal. Barcelona are fifth on six points, NBC Sports and Al Jazeera both reported. NBC Sports said it was Barcelona's first dropped points of the season, and that they had started the day second. ^{[1] [2]}

Background

PSG had beaten Manchester City 4-2 in the Champions League the previous week, USA Today Sports noted in its pre-match coverage, and had won their last four games in Ligue 1. The same report said protests in Paris had led to riots, looting and a curfew in parts of the city, but that the match went ahead as scheduled and the area around the stadium appeared calm before kick-off. ^[4]

The sources reviewed do not list either side's next fixture, so none is given here. Details of the Dembélé and Olmo injuries and any club statements were not available in the reports reviewed. ^{[1] [2] [3]}