Hansi Flick did not reach for excuses in Paris. “In the end, PSG showed that they are a better team than us. We lost this match, but we learned a lot from it,” the Barcelona head coach told reporters after a 4-2 Champions League defeat that ended his side’s perfect start to the season.

Désiré Doué put the home side ahead in the 38th minute. Xavi Espart equalised ten minutes into the second half, before Lucas Hernández restored the lead. Lamine Yamal pulled Barcelona level a second time on 79 minutes, only for Vitinha to settle it two minutes later and Fabián Ruiz to make it 4-2 in the 86th.

Fatigue the main explanation

Flick kept returning to one word: fresh.

“We have to understand the mistakes happen because [the players] are not fresh,” he said.

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Barcelona had spent an extra night in Seville after last Saturday’s La Liga win at Real Betis, with severe weather disrupting the squad’s return. The head coach refused to lean on it.

“It’s not an excuse. It wasn’t the best preparation for this match, but now we have to analyse it.”

Barcelona undone in the last fifteen minutes

The pattern of the match worried Flick as much as the final score. Barcelona equalised twice, but each time PSG hit straight back, and the closing stretch slipped away from them with three goals in 14 minutes.

“They have a lot of quality in transition. We tried to defend against them, we did it well, but in those last fifteen minutes we weren’t fresh,” Flick said.

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He was blunter on how often Barcelona gave the ball away.

“We made too many mistakes, especially in ball possession, easy ball losses.”

Luis Enrique’s PSG, who had Doué back in the starting XI, now top the league phase on nine points from three matches. Barcelona drop to six.

Rodri rested with Real Madrid in mind

The team sheet already hinted at the schedule weighing on the squad. The midfielder Rodri was named only among the substitutes, a decision Flick confirmed was taken with Sunday’s Clásico trip to Real Madrid in mind.

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Dani Olmo added a further worry when he was withdrawn early.

“We’ll see with Olmo. He took the hit and then felt a bit uncomfortable afterward. We have to wait,” Flick said.

Xavi Espart delivers the one bright moment

The brightest Barcelona story belonged to Xavi Espart. The 19-year-old defender, making his first Champions League start, drove into the box and finished past Matvey Safonov in the 55th minute for his first goal in the competition.

“Xavi Espart played a fantastic game. He scored the goal and the level he plays at is incredible,” Flick said.

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Barcelona travel to the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday to face Real Madrid in La Liga.

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