Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has admitted his side must improve on their level of performances following their 2-1 defeat to PSG on Wednesday.
Both sides clashed in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League matchday two encounter, with the European champions coming out 2-1 victors on the night.
Despite the absences of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos, the French side gave a good account of themselves with a very brilliant display.
Barcelona had defeated Newcastle United 2-1 in their opening clash, while PSG were comfortable 4-0 winners over Atalanta.
The home side were also missing some key players, with Raphinha, Joan Garcia and Fermin Lopez out injured, but took the lead in the first half after a mistake by Vitinha in the midfield.
Pedri fed the ball to Marcus Rashford, who crossed for Ferran Torres to open the scoring in the feisty clash.
Senny Mayulu equalized for PSG before the break, as both sides went into halftime with a 1-1 scoreline.
Both teams traded chances in the second half, with the visitors enjoying majority of the best chances and they snatched a late winner after Goncalo Ramos beat the offside trap to score in the 90th minute.
The game ended 2-1 in favor of PSG, who recorded a third straight away win over Barcelona in the UCL.
For the home side, it is a first defeat of the season in all competitions and will look to regroup ahead of their clash with Sevilla in the La Liga this weekend.
Flick admits PSG’s superiority
Speaking after his side’s defeat to the European champions, Hansi Flick admitted that his side are still far off from reaching the ‘top-level’ of the French side.
“You can see it today, there’s no point saying we’re on the same level”, the German revealed.
“But I believe in my team. Today wasn’t our best day, but we are working again to reach this level. Today we lost, but we want to come back.
“We could see the level of PSG and I’m 100% sure we can also play like this. It’s about 90 minutes. The whole team has to defend, attack, use the spaces and be involved in the ball possession”, Flick continued.
“You can see in PSG everyone wants the ball, knows how to use the space, play 1v1, 2v1… This is also what we have to learn, we have to get better.”
