Paris had the final word on Tuesday night as Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 in the third round of the Champions League, extending a perfect start for the French holders and reinforcing their position at the top of the competition.
The result carried particular weight beyond the scoreline. PSG, reigning two-time European champions, overcame Barcelona despite losing both Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to injuries during the match. Vitinha was among the scorers in a night that underlined the depth and resilience of the Paris side.
Barcelona left the French capital beaten, but Spanish reaction focused as much on PSG’s level as on the Catalans’ defeat. The leading Madrid and Barcelona-based newspapers broadly portrayed the home side as a team operating above its rivals.
Spanish press recognises PSG’s authority
Marca’s front page verdict was that “the champions are on another level,” while AS described Barcelona’s night as a “disappointment against the champions.” Mundo Deportivo called it an absorbing match in which Barça were heavily beaten by the title holders.
Sport struck a similar tone, judging that the two-time champions had proved too strong for a Barcelona side that had competed bravely. For PSG, the response from across the Pyrenees reflected the impression made in Paris: three matches played, three victories secured, and another European opponent sent away with four goals conceded.
