Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique hailed his side’s resilience after they came from behind to defeat Barcelona 2-1 in a Champions League league-phase clash at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night.
In a match filled with intensity and high-level football, Gonçalo Ramos scored in stoppage time to complete PSG’s comeback, securing their second victory in as many games and maintaining a perfect start to the campaign.
Enrique, who previously managed Barcelona, described the encounter as a footballing spectacle that reflected PSG’s identity. “We’ve seen an excellent game. When you see two teams who don’t kick each other, who go out to play and to do damage with the ball, you get a really good spectacle,” he said. “Barcelona were better until their goal. We recovered well. We were better in the second half. We deserved it. It’s a big win. It’s always hard playing against Barça. It’s an important win for confidence.”
Barcelona struck first, but PSG equalised through Nuno Mendes’ assist for the opening goal before the Portuguese full-back turned his attention to containing 18-year-old Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal, who had impressed early on with a dazzling run. Mendes’ defensive effort, alongside Achraf Hakimi’s contribution in setting up the decisive goal, highlighted the dominance of PSG’s full-backs on the night.
Ramos’ stoppage-time finish silenced the home crowd, extending Barcelona’s unwanted record of three consecutive home defeats against PSG in the Champions League, following exits in 2021 and 2024.
Luis Enrique, however, downplayed suggestions that the victory confirmed PSG’s superiority in the competition. “This is just one result so in no case does it prove anything. Barça are among the candidates to win the Champions League. They play really well. They are a top-level side. This is just the start of the competition,” he said.
Barcelona, managed by Hansi Flick, saw their six-match winning run across all competitions come to an end. Despite Yamal’s return to the starting line-up after an injury spell, the Catalan side were unable to break down PSG’s well-organised defence after their opening goal.
PSG became the first team to win three straight away games against Barcelona in European competitions, adding further weight to their growing confidence under Enrique. For the manager, the night was not just about the result but about reaffirming PSG’s philosophy. “The most important thing for me is our DNA, our attitude — as a squad and as a club — and that’s what we saw today,” he said.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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