Paris: For an hour at the Parc des Princes, the Champions League holders and the league’s early pacesetters were separated by little more than a single goal. Then the match exploded. Between the 72nd and 86th minutes, four goals arrived, and three of them went PSG’s way.

Barcelona had already levelled once through teenage full-back Xavi Espart, after Désiré Doué’s first-half opener. Lucas Hernández then rose above Anthony Gordon to meet an out-swinging corner and head PSG back in front. Barcelona’s response was swift. Lamine Yamal got the better of Warren Zaïre-Emery and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle to make it 2-2.

PSG had the answer almost immediately. Achraf Hakimi swung in a cross, a Barcelona defender headed it clear, but the ball fell to Vitinha, who chested it down and drove it low past Joan García. Five minutes later, Hakimi tormented the Barcelona defence again, twisting down the right before finding Fabián Ruiz unmarked at the far post.

Flick Points to Tired Legs

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick offered no complaints about the officials after his side’s first defeat of the season, which ended a run of 11 straight wins. He said his team made too many mistakes, particularly easy ball losses, and that his players were not fresh in the closing stages. He also acknowledged PSG’s quality in transition, saying his side defended it well for long spells before tiring in the final fifteen minutes. He added that the players’ workload in recent weeks had been unbelievable, with many of them returning from international duty.

The match also showed the pressure PSG applied on the break. Ferran Torres struck the post moments before Hernández’s header, and Matvey Safonov acted as a sweeper-keeper to cut out a through ball in the closing stages.

Holders Cope Without Key Names

PSG’s success came despite a disrupted build-up. Nuno Mendes missed the game with a thigh injury, and Willian Pacho took a couple of blows to the head during the match yet played on. Luis Enrique’s side also made late changes, bringing on Zaïre-Emery and Senny Mayulu for Hernández and Doué after the 2-1 lead.

The result lifts PSG to nine points from three games and tops the table, while Barcelona sit on six. PSG’s next trip takes them to Villarreal, with Barcelona hosting Aston Villa on the same night. Whether the Catalans’ late fade was a one-off or a warning sign may become clearer when the fixtures keep arriving.