Paris Saint-Germain maintained their winning start to the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season with a last-gasp win over Barcelona on Matchday 2.
Goals from teenage striker Senny Mayulu and substitute forward Goncalo Ramos sealed a come-from-behind victory for the Ligue 1 champions, who fell behind on 19 minutes after a sweeping passing move was finished off by Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.
At that stage, the hosts looked comfortably the better side, but PSG responded well after the early setback, with the pace of Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye causing problems to Barca’s high defensive line, while the marauding full-backs Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi gave the visitors a constant threat from wide areas.
That threat eventually led to an equaliser, as a powerful forward run from Mendes created an opening for Mayulu, which the 19-year-old tucked away with ease to draw PSG level on 38 minutes.
Lamine Yamal runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Nuno Mendes. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
The second half saw PSG establish more control of the game, as Barcelona never quite got to grips with the pace of the French side. And with Hansi Flick’s outfit persisting with a high line, there were constant openings for the visitors to expose them with pace.
Several times, PSG found space out wide and created openings. But with the game deadlocked at 1-1, both managers turned to their benches as they made a host of changes in a bid to make a match-winning difference.
And one of PSG’s substitutes, striker Ramos, proved to be the crucial change as he netted a last-gasp winner.
Hakimi found himself in acres of space down the right wing, and his perfectly-weighted cross found the charging Ramos, who met it first time in stride to put PSG 2-1 up as the match entered stoppage time.
Barca looked shell-shocked, and as stoppage time played out, it was PSG who came closer to adding to the scoresheet as they secured a hard-earned away win against a fellow contender.
PSG’s victory was all the more impressive because they won without a host of their most influential first-teamers. Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Joao Neves and Marquinhos all missed the match due to injury.
