Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season after a disappointing second-half collapse against Paris Saint-Germain at the Camp Nou. Here are the five main takeaways from a night that exposed both the weaknesses of Barça’s squad and the tactical gulf between the two benches.
1. Lamine Yamal’s Spark That Quickly Faded
The opening minutes highlighted the dazzling potential of Lamine Yamal, who toyed with defenders, created chances, and won the ball that led to Ferran Torres’ opener. But the brilliance was short-lived. PSG doubled up on him, Barça stopped feeding him the ball, and he became isolated. It wasn’t just Yamal, though—the entire team visibly lost energy after the break. The pressing vanished, possession slipped away, and Barcelona looked out of gas.
2. Eric García Stood Tall
If one Barcelona player can sleep peacefully after this match, it’s Eric García. Composed, aggressive in tackles, and brave on the ball, he looked like the only defender in control. Ferran Torres also impressed with his hard work and opening goal, while Gerard Martín showed courage in 1v1 duels. In goal, Wojciech Szczęsny kept Barça alive with key saves despite conceding twice.
3. Flick Outclassed by Luis Enrique
The difference between the two coaches was crystal clear. Luis Enrique adjusted constantly, moving pieces and making changes at the perfect moments. PSG emerged from halftime looking structured and patient, waiting for their chance. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick stood frozen, unable to react as Barcelona surrendered control. His substitutions offered no spark, and finishing with a midfield of Frenkie – Casadó – Bernal only invited PSG forward. The inevitable pressure led to Ramos’ stoppage-time winner.
4. Weak Links: Olmo, Cubarsí, and Koundé
Every game has heroes and culprits. For Barcelona, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsí, and Jules Koundé struggled the most. Olmo was invisible, adding no creativity or tempo. Cubarsí looked nervous, late in challenges, and shaky in distribution. Koundé lacked concentration, often caught out of position, and failed to deal with Mbaye. When three core players falter at once, the spine of the team collapses.
5. Barcelona’s Shallow Bench
The biggest issue for Flick was the lack of quality depth. Substitutes like Bernal, Casadó, and Balde were more defensive than offensive, while Lewandowski needed service that never came. Missing Raphinha and Fermín López meant Barça had no injection of directness or energy from the bench. They ended the match looking like a team defending a draw rather than chasing a home win—proof of how thin Barcelona’s squad really is right now.
Conclusion
This loss to PSG is more than just a setback—it’s a warning. Barça’s lack of depth, inconsistent performances from key players, and Flick’s tactical shortcomings could prove costly in their Champions League campaign.
