Paris Saint-Germain inflicted the first defeat of Luis Enrique’s Barcelona reign with a 3-2 win at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
The Ligue 1 champions were without talismanic striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as well as Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi, but held off late Barca pressure to end the visitors’ unbeaten start to the campaign and dampen an historic occasion for midfielder Xavi.
Coming off the bench to make a record 143rd appearance in the UEFA Champions League proper, the former Spain international was on the losing side after defender David Luiz – a target for the Spanish giants in the close-season – showed his quality in the final third with a smart turn and finish to give PSG what proved to be a short-lived lead after 10 minutes.
Lionel Messi was the man to restore parity less than two minutes later in the Group F clash as he swept home Barca’s 500th Champions League goal, although PSG were ahead again shortly before the half-hour mark.
After Marc-Andre Stegen failed to collect a deep corner, Marco Verratti headed home his first PSG goal, with Blaise Matuidi making it 3-1 early in the second half.
PSG’s pressure eventually brought a third goal after 54 minutes when Matuidi swept home Gregory van der Wiel’s delivery from the right, although, as in the first half, Barca hit back soon after.
Neymar controlled Dani Alves’ delivery on his chest and delicately placed the ball past Salvatore Sirigu before Xavi came on to make Champions League history.
Iniesta – making his 100th appearance in the competition – fired over late on and Marquinhos then blocked Jordi Alba’s goalbound effort.
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