Buoyed by an electrifying opening few minutes from Lamine Yamal on his return to the starting line-up, the Blaugrana broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Ferran Torres slotted home a first-time pass from Rashford.
However, despite conceding so early, and being shorn of the services of their entire first-choice forward line, PSG gradually took control of the game and drew level seven minutes before the break through their 19-year-old striker Senny Mayulu, who finished emphatically after a terrific run and pass from Nuno Mendes.
Luis Enrique‘s men then bossed the second half and secured the winner their superiority warranted in the final minute of normal time, as the excellent Achraf Hakimi broke clear for the umpteenth time down the right wing before squaring for substitute Goncalo Ramos to slot home.
Below, BALLGM rates all of the Barcelona players on show on a chastening night for the pretenders to PSG’s European throne…
Buoyed by an electrifying opening few minutes from Lamine Yamal on his return to the starting line-up, the Blaugrana broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Ferran Torres slotted home a first-time pass from Rashford.
However, despite conceding so early, and being shorn of the services of their entire first-choice forward line, PSG gradually took control of the game and drew level seven minutes before the break through their 19-year-old striker Senny Mayulu, who finished emphatically after a terrific run and pass from Nuno Mendes.
Luis Enrique’s men then bossed the second half and secured the winner their superiority warranted in the final minute of normal time, as the excellent Achraf Hakimi broke clear for the umpteenth time down the right wing before squaring for substitute Goncalo Ramos to slot home.
Below, BALLGM rates all of the Barcelona players on show on a chastening night for the pretenders to PSG’s European throne…
Wojciech Szczesny (6/10):
Did a good job filling in for the injured Joan Garcia, making a couple of decent stops and could do nothing about either PSG goal.
Jules Kounde (5/10):
Kept it nice and simple with his passes but offered nothing offensively, mainly because he was having so much trouble with Bradley Barcola, while the Frenchman was also missing in action when Nuno Mendes surged forward to create PSG’s equaliser. On a night like this, it was clear to see that Kounde’s just not on the same level as PSG’s right-back Achraf Hakimi.
Eric Garcia (5/10):
Got the nod to start alongside Pau Cubarsi ahead of Ronald Araujo and justified his inclusion with a solid night’s work.
Pau Cubarsi (5/10):
Still hard to believe he’s only 18 because he’s so composed on the ball but his inexperience was there for all to see when he over-committed himself by going to ground to try to intercept Nuno Mendes’ assist for Mayulu.
Gerard Martin (6/10):
Had the odd hairy moment against Ibrahim Mbaye but he was probably Barca’s best defender, winning loads of duels and passing the ball precisely.
Frenkie de Jong (6/10):
Never the most eye-catching of players but typically neat and tidy with his passing and also made a couple of key interceptions.
Pedri (7/10):
A total footballer, Pedri repeatedly won possession back for Barca with his tenacious tackling and intelligent reading of the play, while he also used the ball excellently – as usual. Ran out of steam in the second half, though, as PSG’s aggressive approach to shutting him down began to take its toll and was replaced after Vitinha u0026amp; Co. had taken complete control of the midfield.
Dani Olmo (4/10):
Fortunate that Raphinha wasn’t fit to play. Olmo underwhelmed, as he so often does. Had just one shot on target, which he should have buried, and didn’t create a single chance – which is awful for the No.10 in this Barca side. No surprise that he was hooked in the 70th minute.
Lamine Yamal (5/10):
Started magnificently, beating three PSG players during one thrilling run down the right wing but he didn’t actually get that much change out of Nuno Mendes. Yamal would obviously argue that the Portuguese should have been sent off for fouling him twice – but the truth of the matter is that the winger’s pathetic pleas to have Mendes dismissed only underlined just how much he was struggling against the man of the match.
Ferran Torres (6/10):
Failed to make the most of one early opportunity but stuck away the second very well indeed. Pressed very well – which is why he got the nod ahead of the ageing Robert Lewandowski – but his influence waned the longer the game wore on.
Marcus Rashford (7/10):
Yet another assist for the on-loan Manchester United attacker, who is really starting to find his groove at Barca. Indeed, it was actually strange to see him come off because he looked a threat every time he picked up the ball and the highlight of his evening was arguably a sublime nutmeg on Warren Zaire-Emery.
Alejandro Balde (5/10):
Brought on with just under 20 minutes remaining and took over from Gerard Martin at left-back. Found life just as difficult against Achraf Hakimi as the man he’d replaced.
Marc Casado (5/10):
Replaced the disappointing Olmo as Flick looked to regain control of the midfield – but didn’t help in that regard.
Robert Lewandowski (5/10):
Came on for Rashford as part of Barca’s treble-change in the 72nd minute but didn’t get a single sight of goal.
Marc Bernal (N/A):
Saw just over 10 minutes of action as a sub for Pedri.
Hansi Flick (5/10):
The decision to start Ferran ahead of Lewandowski was just vindicated but Barca were pretty much second-best thereafter, with Flick failing to come up with any answers to PSG’s dominance – despite the fact that the visitors were without so many star players.
