# Safonov beaten twice at his first post as PSG beat Barcelona 4-2 > PSG defeated Barcelona 4-2 in the Champions League at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with Matveï Safonov conceding two goals at his near post, bringing the total for the season to nine in that area. - Source : https://www.psg-news.com/en/article/safonov-beaten-twice-at-his-near-post-as-psg-beat-barcelona-4-2 - Published on : 2026-10-20T22:11:17+00:00 - Modified : 2026-10-20T22:11:28+00:00 - Lang : en - Publisher : PSG News (https://www.psg-news.com/) - Tags : matvei safonov, desire doué, psg, champions league - Other languages : fr: https://www.psg-news.com/article/matvei-safonov-battu-deux-fois-sur-son-premier-poteau-lors-du-4-2-contre-barcelone - Photo : Like tears in rain, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_Saint-Germain_-_Olympique_de_Marseille,_8_f%C3%A9vrier_2026_(13).jpg ## Key takeaways - On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, PSG defeated FC Barcelona 4-2 in the Champions League at the Parc des Princes. - Matveï Safonov, PSG’s goalkeeper, conceded two goals at the near post in this match. - These two goals mark the eighth and ninth conceded by Safonov at his near post this season. - PSG’s scorers were Désiré Doué (38'), Lucas Hernández (72'), Vitinha (81') and Fabián Ruiz (86'); Barcelona scored via Xavi Espart (55') and Lamine Yamal (79'). - FAQ:[{"question":"Who scored for Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona on 20 October 2026?","answer":"Désiré Doué scored at 38', Lucas Hernández at 72', Vitinha at 81', and Fabián Ruiz at 86'."},{"question":"Who scored for Barcelona and at what minutes?","answer":"Xavi Espart at 55' and Lamine Yamal at 79'."},{"question":"How many near-post goals has Safonov conceded this season after this match?","answer":"Matveï Safonov conceded the eighth and ninth near-post goals this season, i.e., nine in total in this area."}], - poll":{"question":"On which aspect should the staff focus after this match?","options":["Near-post positioning and delivery for Safonov's saves","Defensive organization on crosses and quick shots","Maintain the attacking rhythm that produced 4 goals"]}, On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain won 4-2 against FC Barcelona in the [Champions League](/en/tag/champions%20league). The [PSG](/en/tag/psg) victory, highlighted by goals from Désiré Doué (38'), Lucas Hernández (72'), Vitinha (81'), and Fabián Ruiz (86'), also spotlighted a recurring weakness for goalkeeper Matveï Safonov, who was beaten twice at his near post. ## Goals conceded at the near post Both opposing strikes in this match came at the near post. Barcelona reduced the gap with Xavi Espart in the 55th minute, then with Lamine Yamal in the 79th. These two finishes found the same area of Safonov’s goal, adding to the goals he has conceded this season at his near post. The press notes that these two goals correspond to the eighth and ninth conceded by Safonov at his near post since the start of the season, underscoring a recurring defensive pattern against the PSG goalkeeper. ## Impact on the match and the team's situation Despite these near-post openings, Paris Saint-Germain maintained the match lead thanks to their four goals: - Désiré Doué, PSG forward, opened the scoring in the 38th minute. - Lucas Hernández, PSG defender, made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute. - Vitinha, PSG midfielder, scored in the 81st minute. - Fabián Ruiz, PSG midfielder, completed the scoring in the 86th minute. For Barcelona, Xavi Espart (55') and Lamine Yamal (79') were the scorers. The victory puts Paris top of their Champions League group with 9 points from 3 matches, and PSG remains active in the domestic league with a packed schedule: trip to Villarreal on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 in the Champions League, and home games against Lyon on Sunday, October 25, 2026 and Le Havre AC on Friday, October 30, 2026 in Ligue 1. ## Implications for the goalkeeper and takeaways The repetition of near-post goals highlights a vulnerability the club and coaching staff will need to address, particularly with focused coaching on footwork and positioning for shots and quick crosses. The press nevertheless won the match and scored four goals, tempering the immediate sporting impact of these defensive errors. Lineup — Goalscorers in the match (October 20, 2026, Parc des Princes, Champions League): - Paris Saint-Germain: Désiré Doué 38', Lucas Hernández 72', Vitinha 81', Fabián Ruiz 86' - Barcelona: Xavi Espart 55', Lamine Yamal 79' The fact that two opposing goals target the same area of the goal invites targeted work in upcoming training sessions and defensive briefings. ## Your questions, our answers **Who scored for Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona on 20 October 2026?** Désiré Doué scored at 38', Lucas Hernández at 72', Vitinha at 81', and Fabián Ruiz at 86'. **Who scored for Barcelona and at what minutes?** Xavi Espart at 55' and Lamine Yamal at 79'. **How many near-post goals has Safonov conceded this season after this match?** Matveï Safonov conceded the eighth and ninth near-post goals this season, i.e., nine in total in this area. --- PSG News — Unofficial site, not affiliated with Paris Saint-Germain.