Barcelona's perfect start is over. They lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, their first defeat of the season after eleven straight wins in which they scored 50 goals. They were level at 2-2 with eleven minutes left.
A depleted side
Flick was without Eric García, out for three to four weeks with a thigh injury, and Jules Koundé, who sprained his ankle at Betis. Xavi Espart and João Cancelo played at full-back either side of Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín. Raphinha started for the first time since his hamstring injury, and Marc Bernal partnered Pedri in midfield.
Both sides lost players early. Ousmane Dembélé pulled up after 20 minutes without contact and was replaced by Ferran Torres, facing his old club. Seven minutes later Dani Olmo, making his 100th appearance for Barça, went off after a collision with Vitinha. Fermín López came on.
Doué, then Espart
PSG took the lead on 38. João Neves headed the ball into Désiré Doué's path and he shot into the bottom left corner from outside the box. PSG had ten shots on target before half-time, according to Opta the most Barça have faced in the first half of a Champions League game since at least 2003-04. Joan García kept the score at one.
Barça equalised ten minutes after the break. Fermín slid a pass through for Espart, who finished into the bottom right corner. It was his first Champions League goal and, according to the club, it makes him Barça's youngest scorer in the competition's Champions League era.
"Xavi Espart played a fantastic game," Flick said. "He scored the goal and the level he plays at is incredible."
Back and forth
PSG lost two more players on the hour: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was carried off after landing awkwardly, and Marquinhos went off too. Lucas Hernández headed PSG back in front from Doué's corner on 72.
Barça answered again. On 79 minutes Lamine Yamal scored from a tight angle on the right, into the top right corner. He has 13 Champions League goals at 19, level with Kylian Mbappé's teenage record.
The last ten minutes
Then it went. Two minutes after Yamal's goal, Vitinha shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner. On 86 Achraf Hakimi set up Fabián Ruiz to finish from close range.
"We made too many mistakes, and at this level that is unacceptable," Flick said. "For the third goal, we should have closed down the shooter and put pressure on that area. That's why they won."
He pointed to the legs. "In the last 15 minutes, we weren't at 100 percent physically. It's not an excuse, but the circumstances weren't ideal for preparing for this match."
"It was a fantastic match. In the end, PSG showed that they are a better team than us. We lost this match, but we learned a lot from it."
Anthony Gordon agreed. "They deserved it. They were the better team," he told Sky Sports. "Athletically, they sustained intensity longer than we did."
Joan García
PSG had 22 shots. Joan García made ten saves and, according to ESPN, faced 3.73 expected goals.
Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique was more concerned with his injuries than the result. "I am not the doctor. I am the coach," he said. "The three injuries is the worst part of the game today." On Barça: "You only realize the level of Barcelona when you face them."
PSG are top of the league phase with nine points and are unbeaten in 13 Champions League games under him, equalling the club record. Barça have six points.
The Clásico
Real Madrid come to Camp Nou on Sunday. Olmo is waiting on tests. "We'll see with Olmo. He took the hit and then felt a bit uncomfortable afterward. We have to wait," Flick said. Eric García will miss it, Koundé's availability depends on how his ankle responds, and Frenkie de Jong has still not played this season.
