Depleted PSG battle back to earn gritty 2-1 win at Barcelona

Depleted PSG battle back to earn gritty 2-1 win at Barcelona

The defending champions overcame a raft of injuries to clinch a valuable 90th-minute victory away from home.

Paris St Germain
Paris St-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos (centre) scores the late winner against Barcelona at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.(AFP pic)
BARCELONA:
Paris St Germain battled back from a goal down to grab a 2-1 win over Barcelona in a gripping Champions League encounter on Wednesday, with the defending champions overcoming a raft of injuries to secure a valuable victory away from home.

Barcelona started well and their pressure paid off in the 19th minute when Marcus Rashford delivered a precise pass across the box to Ferran Torres, who slid in to beat the offside trap and slot past PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

PSG, however, responded tenaciously despite missing captain Marquinhos and their starting attacking trio of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue.

They took control of proceedings and equalised in the 38th minute when Nuno Mendes embarked on a dazzling run down the left, beating three defenders before setting up 19-year-old Senny Mayulu, who finished clinically into the bottom corner.

After substitute Lee Kang-in hit the post with a shot from the edge of the box in the 83rd minute, they finally scored a deserved winner from a quick counter in the 90th, with Achraf Hakimi crossing for substitute Goncalo Ramos to fire home from close range.

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