Mighty Barca finally defeated by the European kings

For two years now, there has been no one better or more powerful in Europe… And it looks as though there will be no one in a third year either. Because there is no team more perfect than Paris Saint-Germain, and it is questionable whether there ever has been. Since August, week after week, the world has marvelled at Barcelona as they piled goals past Elche, Racing Santander, Betis, Valencia and other La Liga sides. Then they arrived at the Parc des Princes, where football is played in royal fashion. And Barca found that out the hard way. Luis Enrique’s team grabbed them by the throat and brought them to their knees — 4–2.Four goals in the space of a week against the impeccable, unbeaten leaders of the Premier League and La Liga. Manchester City were demolished, and Barcelona suffered the same fate… despite being level at 2–2 in the 80th minute. Anyone who had kept their eyes glued to the screen from the opening whistle could see what was coming… because Joan García kept the Catalans alive for much of the match in Paris, finishing the game with ten saves and several stops from point-blank range.Not even the absence of Nuno Mendes, the specialist at shutting down the planet’s best wingers, helped Barcelona. Luis Enrique was right when he said that Yamal cannot be stopped by one player alone. PSG dismantled Barca’s star player and Ballon d’Or contender collectively, making the visitors’ right winger look like the weakest link on the pitch for much of the match. And tonight, that ’link’ deserves praise only for his miraculous goal in the 79th minute. In the first half, Yamal lost possession more than ten times, including in a disgraceful piece of play in the 38th minute. It was simply the carelessness of a lad who knows he is one of the best footballers on the planet. Joao Neves won the ball, Desire Doue punished Barcelona. Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín were left bewildered, while Doue continued his incredible run, as it turned out, with PSG winning their 28th consecutive match in which the French international has found the net.Five minutes, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the post and García saved efforts from Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue later. An injury prevented Dembele from enjoying much of a reunion with his former club, where he spent years languishing in the treatment room and was not even a pale shadow of the player who went on to win the Ballon d’Or. One former Barca player replaced another as Ferran Torres came on, but he failed to exact his revenge. García denied Spain’s World Cup winner twice in one-on-one situations, in the 25th and 29th minutes. But the visitors’ goalkeeper was not the only one to shine. In the 40th minute, Matvey Safonov prevented Barcelona from equalising by stopping Fermín, who had come on early for the injured Olmo, in a one-on-one situation.García saved Barcelona again early in the second half, denying Achraf Hakimi in a one-on-one situation, before misfortune struck PSG. After Dembele had already been injured, Marquinhos and Khvicha were also forced off with injuries. But only after Hansi Flick’s side had equalised. The German coach did something never seen before in the Champions League. No one had ever started a match in Europe’s elite competition against the defending champions with four teenagers. And Xavi Espart, who has been a regular starter in La Liga, repaid his faith with a superb run and a goal to make it 1–1, brilliantly set up by Fermín.The Spanish champions had drawn level and began to dominate. The period around the hour mark was Barcelona’s chance to take control. PSG had to tighten their ranks, while Raphinha, Gavi and Cancelo all threatened within the space of a few minutes. The Brazilian fired wildly, while Safonov saved efforts from the Spaniard and the Portuguese. What Ferran failed to do in the 71st minute, when he hit the post from another colossal chance — he was behind the ball and therefore onside — Lucas Hernández, the unsung hero, managed to accomplish. Had Mendes been fit, Hernández would probably have spent the match on the bench or come on only in the closing stages. Instead, the French defender first did an excellent job in his battle with Yamal, before powering a superb header into the net around 20 minutes from time to restore PSG’s lead. Hernández was left facing Anthony Gordon in an unequal battle…Yamal produced a moment of magic to make it 2–2, and it looked as though Barcelona might seize the momentum, perhaps even snatch a victory. But PSG have a phenomenal midfield, a trio capable of doing everything. Neves did his job by punishing Yamal’s carelessness before the opening goal, while Vitinha and Ruiz toyed with the Catalan giants between the 81st and 86th minutes. First came the Portuguese midfielder’s volley, followed by the Spaniard sneaking in behind the back of an unsuspecting Cancelo. Barca were beaten fairly and squarely. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 3TuesdayFenerbahce – Slavia Praha 2-2 (2-1)/Aydin 4, Greenwood 11 – Provod 15, Kacor 90/Sabah – Dortmund 1-2 (1-1)/McCarthey 39 – Guirassy 10, 53/Liverpool – Villarreal 4-3 (2-2)/Mac Allister 36, 65, Araujo 45+2, Wirtz 68 – Mikautadze 4, Cardona 29, Oluwaseyi 87/Manchester City – AEK Athens 5-1 (2-0)/Anderson 12, Foden 34, 65, 76, Cherki 57 – Pilo 52/Napoli – Bodo/Glimt 4-3 (2-1)/Politano 1, McTominay 41, 75, Bjortuft 88 og – Hauge 27, Helmersen 62, Fet 90+4/PSG – Barcelona 4-2 (1-0)/Doue 38, Hernandez 72, Vitinha 81, Ruiz 86 – Espart 55, Yamal 79/Porto – PSV 0-1 (0-0)/Til 57/AS Roma – Slovan Bratislava 4-0 (2-0)/Hermoso 21, Molina 39, Pisilli 52, Malen 56 pen/Stuttgart – Atletico Madrid 1-1 (1-0)/Leweling 36 – Alvarez 47/