Paris Saint-Germain secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Girona in their Champions League debut on Wednesday, thanks to a late blunder by Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Despite dominating with over 60 percent possession and 24 shots on goal, PSG struggled to break down Girona’s defense until the 90th minute, when a low cross from Nuno Mendes slipped past Gazzaniga and into the net.

Girona, making their first-ever appearance in Europe’s top competition following a historic third-place finish in La Liga, faced a bitter end to their Champions League debut. Despite a solid defensive performance, they were left rueing the late error that denied them a potential draw.

PSG, determined to improve on last season’s semi-final exit, were relieved to secure the win. Manager Luis Enrique praised Girona’s defensive solidity but felt his team deserved the victory. “Girona defended very well and showed why last season they led La Liga for so long,” Enrique said. “We got a bit of luck with the goal but I think we deserved the victory.”

Under UEFA’s revamped Champions League format, teams now face eight different opponents in the league phase, with the top eight advancing to the last 16. PSG’s challenging fixtures include upcoming matches against Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

Girona coach Michel expressed disappointment over the late goal but remained optimistic about his team’s performance. “I am sad about the result, but we are a humble club, and we showed that we were up to it,” he said.

PSG’s next match is against Arsenal, while Girona will host Feyenoord, hopeful of continuing their competitive form in their debut European campaign.