Almost a year ago, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane scored a goal that ultimately didn’t affect the outcome in a 4-1 defeat to Barcelona, but it had significant repercussions on Wednesday. Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos, who watched that goal, credits it with helping him succeed against Barcelona’s high defensive line to score a crucial goal as PSG won 2-1 in the Champions League.

Coming off the bench for the visitors, Ramos executed a goal that illustrated PSG’s meticulous preparation, highlighting how Kane successfully navigated Barcelona’s defense in their prior match.

In their earlier encounter, Kane faced multiple chances against Barcelona’s high line. After initially scoring, he was ruled offside, but on another attempt, thanks to Serge Gnabry’s assist, he found the net with an incredible finish.

Thierry Henry, an analyst at CBS Sports, observed Kane’s tactical awareness in handling Barcelona defenders, a recurring theme when facing manager Hansi Flick’s squad.

Henry remarked, “This man realized that in the first half, Barcelona are always pushing too much, so there is no need for you to come back. Just make sure you stay in an offside position… He knows he’ll be behind the ball.”

This tactic closely mirrors Achraf Hakimi’s assist to Ramos, positioning him perfectly to score due to Barça’s failing defense. Ramos echoed, “I think about beating a high line. It’s my favorite place. We have fast players coming from behind. Watching Kane’s goal two years ago influenced my own.”

Ramos’ successful strategy raises questions for Barcelona about their defensive methodology. It’s evident that unless they reassess their approach, they will repeatedly face setbacks against high-caliber teams in the Champions League.