2 years and 8 months of silence! Lucas Hernandez finally scores and stuns Barcelona
An incredible moment at the Parc des Princes! Lucas Hernandez has finally ended a goalscoring drought lasting more than two and a half years, and he chose one of the biggest possible stages to do it. The French defender struck against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Details: Hernandez scored in the 71st minute of PSG's Champions League encounter with Barcelona on October 20, putting the French champions ahead 2-1. The defender, who started the match, celebrated wildly with his teammates after finding the net. According to FBref's goal records, his previous competitive goal came against Nantes on February 17, 2024. That means Hernandez had gone approximately two years and eight months without scoring before his remarkable breakthrough.
The timing made the goal especially dramatic. PSG had taken the lead through Désiré Doué in the 38th minute, but Barcelona fought back after halftime when Xavi Espart equalised. With the score locked at 1-1, Hernandez emerged as the unexpected hero and restored the hosts' advantage.
The long scoring drought is understandable given Hernandez's defensive role, but the circumstances make his achievement extraordinary. The French international has also endured serious injury problems during his PSG career, including a major knee injury sustained against Borussia Dortmund in May 2024.
For Luis Enrique, the strike was a welcome contribution from an unlikely source. PSG had already suffered injuries to attacking stars during the encounter, but their defender delivered when the team needed another goal. Barcelona, meanwhile, faced the possibility of losing their unbeaten start to the season.
It's worth noting that Hernandez's previous recorded goal was scored against Nantes in Ligue 1 on February 17, 2024. His strike against Barcelona ended that lengthy wait and made the score 2-1 in PSG's favour. This was the score at the time of the goal, not the confirmed final result.
Reminder: Barcelona stunned! Désiré Doué sends PSG fans wild with Champions League opener.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
