FEATURE | Three things we learned as PSG beat Barcelona to continue their winning start to their Champions League defence

FEATURE | Three things we learned as PSG beat Barcelona to continue their winning start to their Champions League defence Paris Saint-Germain continued their winning start to their UEFA Champions League defence. Just as they did against Manchester City last week, Luis Enrique’s side put four past Barcelona (4-2), touted as their closest rival in this season’s edition of the competition. We look at three things that we learnt from Tuesday night’s encounter at the Parc des Princes. Lucas Hernandez back in contention The logic of retaining Lucas Hernandez was questionable this summer. Nuno Mendes is the undisputed first-choice, Warren Zaire-Emery can deputise, and Lucas Digne, who had been a starter for France at the FIFA World Cup, had just been re-signed from Aston Villa. At best, he was third choice, maybe even fourth, that for a player that had designs on playing a role for Les Bleus in North America over the summer. Digne has massively underwhelmed since joining PSG. Hernandez is the benefactor. Luis Enrique’s decision to start Hernandez over Digne came as something of a surprise, but he kept Lamine Yamal largely quiet, frustrating the world champion. That frustration became increasingly visible as the night progressed. He was guilty of one lapse, which allowed Xavi Espart to charge down his inside, bear down on Matvey Safonov’s goal and score. He atoned for it with his headed finish. He earned a standing ovation when he was replaced by Zaire-Emery and, just to emphasise his importance on the night, Yamal beat Zaire-Emery in the pair’s first duel and then finished at Safonov’s near post. Pan to Hernandez, the man who sat on the bench and had successfully shut Yamal down: in the frame in more ways than one. DD Day Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé may be set for periods on the sideline. Both came off injured. But that isn’t the sole reason that Désiré Doué could be the leader of this PSG attack this season. 2025 was his breakout year, but 2026 was marked by fluctuating form and fitness. He is still just 21; it is easy to forget. But he has been consistently brilliant so far this season. He pops up across the attacking line, and be it on the left, the right, or through the middle, he is equally as effective. He still has that ‘showman’ tendency with his footwork, but he is increasingly effective and efficient with the ball at his feet. He now also has a signature dragged finish that goalkeepers are struggling to contend with. No PSG forward has started more games than Doué this season, and it is a sign that he is becoming Luis Enrique’s go-to man. The France international continues to justify the Spaniard’s decision. PSG’s medical department under the microscope Dembélé and Luis Enrique traded jokes about the former’s “holidays” last week. The Ballon d’Or winner was left out of the PSG squad to face Le Mans FC but returned with aplomb against Manchester City.   “After the international break, I went on holiday. In fact, I might just ask for another one…,” he quipped on Canal Plus. “On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I really enjoy playing… especially when I’m back from holiday!” “He’s the boss! If he wants holiday [leave], he makes the request; he will get it,” responded Luis Enrique. It was a tongue-in-cheek remark. But if the performance against Manchester City justified the game management strategy, this one called it into question. Dembélé managed only 20 minutes before his hamstring injury. Around the hour mark, Marquinhos and Kvaratskhelia both broke down. The latter’s knee injury is particularly concerning. The strategy deployed by PSG does have its detractors. Some within the field emphasise a lack of rhythm, match fitness, and robustness as a result of such a strategy. It worked last season. Player availability has been the less sexy side of PSG’s recent success. But with a thin squad – by choice – Luis Enrique cannot have too many nights like this. It is the kind of night that may see processes revisited. GFFN | Luke Entwistle