UCL: Gazzaniga’s late mistake hands PSG victory over Girona

Paris Saint-Germain narrowly escaped a frustrating night in the Champions League after a late mistake from Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga gifted them a 1-0 victory.

In a match dominated by PSG’s relentless attacks, it was a rare moment of fortune that turned the tide in favor of the hosts.

Portuguese left-back Nuno Mendes fired a low shot from a tight angle late in the game, which should have been an easy save for Gazzaniga. However, the Argentine keeper fumbled the ball, allowing it to slip through his hands and into the net, breaking the deadlock.

Girona, making their Champions League debut after an impressive third-place finish in La Liga last season, put up a steely defensive display that had frustrated PSG for much of the match. Despite PSG racking up 26 shots, the visitors managed to nullify most of their threats and looked set to earn a valuable point.

France forward Ousmane Dembélé came closest for PSG, hitting the crossbar with a curling effort and being denied by a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Ladislav Krejci as he raced toward goal. Girona’s compact defense, combined with their disciplined passing, kept the French champions at bay for the majority of the match.

However, Girona offered little in terms of attacking threat, as they were primarily focused on containing PSG’s offensive onslaught. Luis Enrique’s side struggled to create clear-cut chances despite their dominance, and it wasn’t until Gazzaniga’s crucial mistake that the deadlock was finally broken.

With this hard-fought victory, PSG now looks ahead to their next Champions League clash against Arsenal on October 1, while Girona will aim to bounce back when they host Feyenoord on October 2.