Paris Saint-Germain showed their resilience in Europe once again, overturning an early deficit to beat Barcelona 2-1 at Montjuïc. Senny Mayulu scored a stunning equaliser before Gonçalo Ramos sealed victory for Luis Enrique’s depleted side in dramatic fashion.
Paris Saint-Germain proved why they remain Champions League favourites after battling back from behind to defeat Barcelona 2-1 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Despite being without Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and João Neves, Luis Enrique’s side grew stronger as the game went on, with Senny Mayulu and Gonçalo Ramos grabbing the goals that silenced the Catalan crowd.
Barcelona had started brightly, capitalising on PSG’s early nerves. Marcus Rashford continued his fine form with a precise first-time pass that allowed Ferran Torres to finish neatly in the 19th minute. The reigning champions were rattled, with Vitinha guilty of cheap turnovers and Ilia Zabarnyi forced into a remarkable goal-line clearance to deny Torres a second.
But PSG’s response underlined their maturity. Nuno Mendes produced a blistering run and assist that set up 19-year-old Mayulu for the equaliser just before half-time. From there, the momentum shifted. Ibrahim Mbaye tormented Jules Koundé on the left, Achraf Hakimi embodied PSG’s resilience with a heroic block, and as the game entered its final minutes, the Moroccan captain surged forward again to supply Ramos for the decisive finish.
Here’s how PSG’s players rated on a memorable night in Catalonia:
Goalkeeper & Defence
- Lucas Chevalier (6/10): Untroubled for long stretches; his defence carried the burden.
- Achraf Hakimi (8/10): A captain’s performance — heroic block in defence and a decisive assist in attack.
- Ilia Zabarnyi (7/10): Shaky start but superb recovery, including a vital goal-line clearance.
- Willian Pacho (7/10): Solid throughout and worked well with Mendes to contain Yamal.
- Nuno Mendes (7/10): Outstanding run and assist for Mayulu, though fortunate to avoid a red card.
Midfield
- Vitinha (7/10): Sloppy early on but grew into the game, dictating the tempo in the second half.
- Fabián Ruiz (6/10): Effective defensively, though forced off with injury.
- Warren Zaïre-Emery (6/10): Late replacement for Neves, held his own and joined attacks confidently.
Attack
- Ibrahim Mbaye (7/10): Fearless display from the 17-year-old, caused havoc down the left.
- Bradley Barcola (6/10): Missed a big chance and struggled for impact before being subbed.
- Senny Mayulu (7/10): Showed composure beyond his years with a superb equaliser.
Subs & Manager
- Gonçalo Ramos (8/10): The match-winner — one chance, one finish. Clinical.
- Lee Kang-in (7/10): Hit the post and injected creativity off the bench.
- Lucas Hernández (6/10): Steady cameo, helped close out the game.
- Quentin Ndjantou (N/A): Late introduction with little time to influence.
- Luis Enrique (8/10): Masterminded victory against his former club despite major absences; his youthful team showed remarkable character.
This victory not only extends PSG’s unbeaten start to their European campaign but also reinforces their status as the team to beat. Even without their headline stars, the champions once again found a way to deliver when it mattered most.
