Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 in a breathless Champions League clash at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, scoring three times in the final 18 minutes after Barcelona had twice dragged the game level.

The meeting of two early favourites came on matchday three, with both sides unbeaten and level on six points and goal difference. PSG, the back to back European champions, faced Barcelona without Rodri in the starting lineup, and the home side pressed high from the first whistle, leaving the visitors struggling to play out from the back. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the woodwork early on, but the match was soon disrupted by injuries.

Ousmane Dembélé went off after 19 minutes with an apparent hamstring problem and was replaced by Ferran Torres. Barcelona lost Dani Olmo to injury after a collision with Vitinha, with Fermín López coming on.

Désiré Doué broke the deadlock seven minutes before the break, finding space at the edge of the area and beating Joan García. Barcelona’s goalkeeper kept the deficit to one, including two saves to deny Torres.

Barcelona levelled in the 55th minute through 19 year old right back Xavi Espart, who scored on his first Champions League start after a quick one two with López. Lucas Hernández restored the lead in the 72nd minute, heading home a João Neves corner for his first goal in more than two years.

Lamine Yamal made it 2-2 in the 79th minute, racing past Warren Zaïre-Emery, who had been on the pitch for barely 30 seconds, and firing into the top corner.

PSG hit back almost immediately. Vitinha struck a superb long range effort in the 81st minute, and Fabián Ruiz sealed the win in the 86th minute with a tap in at the back post after Achraf Hakimi got behind Barcelona’s left side and squared the ball across goal.

The victory takes PSG to nine points from three matches, while Barcelona stay on six. PSG finished with 14 shots on target. The extent of the injuries to Dembélé and Olmo was not immediately clear. PSG travel to Villarreal on November 3.

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