On the day the Champions League round of 16 first-leg series continued, the Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea clash opened with a brilliant goal from Bradley Barcola at the Parc des Princes.

However, the English side responded with a strong performance from Enzo Fernandez, who scored and assisted to level the score temporarily. The match would end in a 5-2 defeat, leaving a complicated result to overturn in the second leg in London.

In a clash of champions, the last Champions League winner and the Club World Cup winner faced each other again after meeting in the first final of this new format of the universal tournament, played on July 13. It took 10 minutes to break the deadlock in the French capital: Joao Neves brought down a cross for Barcola, who controlled it with his chest and finished with his left foot. The ball hit the post and went in off the angle.

But in the 28th minute, another Frenchman, Malo Gusto, equalized, firing from the right and benefiting from some complicity from Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. The Chelsea player received a switch of play from Enzo Fernandez and leveled the match in Paris.

The World Cup winner, currently playing as a No. 10 as he has in other matches, was decisive again for Chelsea. He had not been called up for the FA Cup and had also provided an assist in their last Premier League match against Aston Villa.

However, the equalizer would not last long. In the 40th minute, a magnificent piece of play from Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, who executed a counterattack following a good save by Russian goalkeeper Safonov, resulted in a 2-1 lead. A dribble to leave Wesley Fofana on the ground and a crossed finish were enough to put his team back in front.

In the second half, with chances for both teams, the Argentine's equalizer arrived. A phenomenal run down the left wing by Pedro Neto ended with a pass back for Enzo Fernandez. He only had to open his body to slot home the 2-2 equalizer.

His last goal had been on Jan. 31, against West Ham in the Premier League. He now has 43 appearances this season, totaling 12 goals, three in the Champions League.

When the match was in limbo, the Parisian side took the lead again. In the 74th minute, a blunder from goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who gifted the ball to forward Barcola, who quickly passed it to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and culminated in a chip from Portuguese player Vitinha, making it 3-2. A goal born from an error, but ending in a great piece of skill.

The goals kept coming. Just 12 minutes later, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored another great goal in this match, cutting in from the left and finishing the move with an exquisite shot. The Georgian, who would later be booked, thus contributed a goal and an assist in the match.

The other Argentine, Alejandro Garnacho, was a late substitute but could not prevent another goal against his team. Again, Kvaratskhelia crafted a great move for PSG, which ended with the ball going in after another weak reaction from goalkeeper Jorgensen, for the final 5-2 scoreline. Earlier, they had a goal disallowed for offside, in a move that started with a pressured pass from the Dane, which Enzo criticized during the match.

They will face each other again next week, on Tuesday at 5 p.m., at Stamford Bridge. The deficit is large, but Enzo Fernandez's team will have to seek a comeback to advance to the quarterfinals. The last European champion got its small measure of revenge for the Club World Cup final.

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