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Paris Saint-Germain defeated Barcelona 3-2 before a lively, star-studded crowd in Paris on Tuesday evening in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage. With former player David Beckham and power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé in attendance, PSG got on the scoreboard earlier and then held off a furious Barcelona rally in the closing minutes to earn their hard-fought victory.
Prior to the match, a lot of attention had been paid to the mediocre form that PSG had displayed in the start of their campaign this season. Though they have yet to lose in any competition, they could only tally 3 wins and 6 draws through their first 9 matches. PSG also was without its star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who missed the match with a heel injury. Uruguayan international Edinson Cavani took Ibrahimovic’s place up front for PSG and it was on him to dare to Zlatan. PSG was also without Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi due to injuries, so it was not fielding anything near their first-choice lineup against Barcelona.
Barcelona came into the match having not conceded a goal in any match so far this season and was positioned at the top of the table in La Liga. In the first matchday of the Champions League, Barcelona defeated APOEL 1-0, while PSG drew Ajax 1-1, so it was important for PSG to get a result at home coming into this match. Both squads have high ambitions this season, domestically and in the Champions League, so the stakes were raised for this early showdown.
Penny for their thoughts? Well…probably would cost more than that. (Photo: @TerraceLife \ Twitter)
New signing David Luiz opened the scoring for PSG in the 10th minute with an excellent goal from a set piece from Lucas. Luiz took a touch, pivoted and then finished into the right corner of the net. It did not take long for Barcelona to answer (only about a minute), as it responded in typical Barcelona fashion with a flurry of passes. Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta had a fabulous give-and-go, and Messi slotted the ball home for his 68th career Champions League goal. PSG took the lead back 15 minutes later following horrendous defending by Barcelona. From a corner kick, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen attempted to reach the long corner near the back post, but could not get there in time. PSG midfielder Marco Verratti beat him to the ball and headed home to give PSG back the lead.
Luiz celebrates, ball boy smiles dutifully. (Photo: Canada.com)
In the second half, PSG went ahead again when Blaise Matuidi knocked home an excellent low cross from the right flank that put PSG up 3-1. Once again, Barcelona answered almost immediately, only this time it was Neymar with a clinical finish following a cross that he calmly put home (after Messi whiffed on a header). Though Xavi came on for Barcelona and broke the record for most all-time appearances in the Champions League (passing former Real Madrid star Raul), some frantic defending from PSG, specifically Luiz, prevented Barcelona from getting the equalizer they so desperately sought.
With the victory, PSG moves to the top of Group F with 4 points and Barcelona slides down to second place staying at 3 points, 1 ahead of Ajax. Though the Barcelona supporters never like to lose, this loss on the road to a continental power like PSG is not a bad one, even though Zlatan was not in the lineup. The more concerning thing for Barcelona (and also for PSG) came through their poor defending, as both sides gave up goals that they probably should not have. The next matchday for the Champions League is October 21 and on that day, PSG will take on APOEL away and Barcelona will play Ajax at Camp Nou. Until then, the focus turns back to their domestic leagues at the weekend.
Follow Mike Smith on Twitter @thefootiegent
He'd rather have sat with Zlatan than those 3.
