PSG Beats Barcelona 2-1 With Ramos’ Late Champions League Winner/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Paris Saint-Germain stunned Barcelona with a last-minute goal from Gonçalo Ramos in the Champions League. Manchester City drew 2-2 with Monaco despite Erling Haaland’s brace, while Arsenal stayed perfect. Other matches saw Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, and Newcastle secure strong wins in Europe.
PSG vs Barcelona Champions League Quick Look
- PSG beat Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
- Gonçalo Ramos scored the decisive 90th-minute winner.
- PSG missing Dembele, Doue, and Kvaratskhelia still rallied.
- Ferran Torres opened for Barca, Senny Mayulu equalized.
- Luis Enrique praised PSG’s resilience; Hansi Flick admitted Barcelona fell short.
Deep Look: PSG, Man City, Arsenal and More in Champions League Action
Paris Saint-Germain made a powerful statement in its Champions League title defense by defeating Barcelona 2-1 with a last-minute strike from Gonçalo Ramos. The dramatic win at Barcelona’s temporary home, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, showed the depth of Luis Enrique’s squad even without injured stars Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Despite Ferran Torres’ early opener for Barcelona in the 19th minute, PSG showed resilience. Senny Mayulu equalized in the 38th before Lee Kang-in struck the post late on. Just when it seemed destined for a draw, Achraf Hakimi delivered a low cross for Ramos to slot home in the 90th minute, sealing PSG’s second straight victory of the group stage.
Enrique praised his side’s determination, saying: “When they are wearing our shirt, carrying our badge, the amount of attitude and effort is non-negotiable.”
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick conceded that PSG had deserved the win: “We have to accept that we were beaten, but we will work on getting better.”
Manchester City Denied at Monaco
Erling Haaland continued his relentless scoring form with two more goals, bringing his Champions League tally to 52 in just 50 games, but it was not enough to deliver victory. Manchester City led twice in Monaco before conceding a last-minute penalty converted by Eric Dier to end 2-2.
Haaland admitted City’s frustration, saying: “It isn’t good enough. We have to try to win the next game.”
Pep Guardiola will be concerned by his side’s defensive lapses after seeing three points slip away.
Napoli’s Hojlund Rediscovers Form
Former Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund impressed with a brace in Napoli’s 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon. After struggling last season at Old Trafford, Hojlund is quickly settling in, benefiting from Kevin De Bruyne’s service for both goals. His resurgence highlights Napoli’s attacking depth in Europe.
Arsenal Maintain Perfection
Arsenal kept up their perfect Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Olympiakos, their sixth clean sheet in nine games across all competitions this season. Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring, and Bukayo Saka added a stoppage-time strike to underline Arsenal’s control.
Elsewhere, Qarabag also remained perfect after a 2-0 victory over Copenhagen, thanks to goals from Abdellah Zoubir and Emmanuel Addai.
Newcastle’s New Striker Delivers
Nick Woltemade is emerging as a key figure for Newcastle following Alexander Isak’s controversial transfer to Liverpool. The German forward scored his third goal in four starts, helping Newcastle dominate Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0. Anthony Gordon added two penalties, and Harvey Barnes sealed the rout.
Signed from Stuttgart, Woltemade’s instinctive finishing is quickly winning over Newcastle fans, though he still faces the challenge of living up to Isak’s prolific record.
Dortmund, Juventus, Villarreal Provide More Drama
Borussia Dortmund ran riot in a 4-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao, while Bayer Leverkusen was held to a 1-1 draw by PSV Eindhoven.
In Spain, Juventus and Villarreal drew 2-2, with Renato Veiga netting a dramatic late equalizer against his former club. While not the eight-goal thriller Juve played against Dortmund last time, the match provided another reminder of Juve’s unpredictable European campaign.
Champions League Group Stage Outlook
- PSG stand out as the team to beat after two convincing wins.
- Manchester City’s slip could complicate their group race.
- Arsenal and Qarabag both boast perfect starts.
- Napoli and Newcastle are shaping up as dangerous challengers.
As the competition heats up, early results suggest a highly competitive Champions League season, with several traditional powerhouses already facing serious challenges.
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