On a shocking European night, Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season against Paris Saint-Germain, losing 2-1 in the final minutes of Wednesday’s match at the Olympic Stadium in the second round of the Champions League group stage.
An Unexpected Fall
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Everyone expected Barcelona to continue their positive results, but what happened on the pitch turned expectations upside down. The Catalan team put on a lackluster performance, lacking decisiveness and solidity in crucial moments, allowing Paris Saint-Germain to snatch a last-gasp victory just as everyone thought the match was headed for a draw.
The defeat wasn’t just about three lost points; it revealed deeper issues within Barcelona, particularly on an individual level, which angered new coach Hansi Flick. He appeared deeply frustrated with the performance of some players.
Flick Blames Three for the Loss
According to sources close to the team, Flick expressed his extreme anger in the locker room after the match, publicly criticizing the team’s trio: Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, and Pau Coparsi, considering them to be among the main reasons for the loss.
Dani Olmo, who joined Barcelona last season, continues to deliver disappointing performances, failing to make a significant impact in attack. The player’s missed opportunities are becoming a source of concern, amid questions about his ability to provide the expected contribution.
Ferran Torres also continued his inconsistent performance, failing to exploit the spaces or pose any real threat to Paris’ goal. The worst performance came from young defender Pau Coparsi, who committed several crucial errors and appeared nervous with every decisive ball.
Expected Decisions… and Imminent Exclusion
According to reports, Flick is poised to make crucial decisions in the coming period, including excluding the trio from the starting lineup to allow more fit and effective players to take the lead. The German coach also opened the door to selling Dani Olmo if an offer meets the club’s ambitions, especially since the player has yet to justify his market value.
Group Standings Get More Complicated
With this loss, Barcelona’s tally remains frozen at 3 points in 16th place, while Paris Saint-Germain’s tally has risen to 6 points, moving up to third place. This further complicates the group’s calculations and places Flick under additional pressure ahead of the upcoming matches.
