On Tuesday at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 4-2 victory over FC Barcelona on Matchday 3 of the 2026-2027 Champions League. Below are the player ratings awarded to the Parisian side by Le Parisien and L’Équipe (you can find our own ratings here).
Le Parisien:
L’Équipe:
Paris sets the tempo, despite a few scares
PSG dominated Barcelona (4-2) on Tuesday, October 20, at the Parc des Princes, during the third round of the Champions League. Although pegged back twice, the Parisians responded immediately following the second equalizer. Both publications awarded an average rating of 7/10, reflecting a high-quality performance marked by standout individual contributions—though there were a few defensive lapses.
Hernandez and Doué set the tone
Hernandez faced a formidable opponent, yet he held his ground without taking a step back. Through physical duels, tracking back, and aggressive play, he ensured Yamal rarely found the space needed to accelerate. His header from a corner kick capped off a performance that L’Équipe—which gave him a 9—highlighted primarily for its defensive impact. Doué provided a different kind of assurance: the ability to change the game in a single moment. His opening goal, followed by a decisive corner kick, rewarded a Paris side that had already generated plenty of chances.
The midfield drives the team forward
Neves excelled in winning back possession, pressing, and maintaining the flow of play. Vitinha offered constant passing options and restored Paris’s lead just after Barça had leveled the score. Ruiz joined the attacks, pushing all the way into the penalty area to finish plays. Their complementary skill sets allowed the team to keep moving the ball forward, even when their control became less precise. The threat came from multiple areas of the pitch, with Hakimi extending this pressure down the right flank; his cross for the final goal was a fitting reward for his persistent presence. Reservations despite the victory
Kvaratskhelia remained on the periphery. His early effort against the post and his defensive tracking back did not make up for an overly inconsistent performance—a situation compounded by his failure to track Espart’s run. After Dembélé was substituted off, Ferran found opportunities but was unable to convert them. At the back, Safonov made some valuable saves, though he was not entirely beyond reproach regarding the goals conceded. Pacho’s interventions and Marquinhos’s disciplined marking were also crucial in preventing further damage.
Luis Enrique’s gamble on Hernandez paid off. Injuries to Dembélé, Marquinhos, and Kvaratskhelia complicated his tactical adjustments. Yet, even after Yamal’s equalizer, his side retained enough reserves to rally and finish strongly.
