PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain underlined their status as European champions by beating Barcelona 4-2 in a blockbuster Champions League clash on Tuesday, while Liverpool and Manchester City also claimed victories.

Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz scored for PSG, with Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal twice pulling Barcelona level in the second half.

At Anfield, Alexis Mac Allister scored twice as Liverpool fought back from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 in a thrilling encounter.

Fellow Premier League side also triumphed as Phil Foden scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester City to a 5-1 win over AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also on the scoresheet as Erling Haaland was rested.

Barcelona arrived at the Parc des Princes with a perfect record across all competitions this season, but PSG proved more clinical in a breathless contest to hand the Catalans their first defeat of the campaign.

The relentless tempo took its toll, with PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos, along with Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, all forced off through injury.

Kvaratskhelia will require knee surgery, likely ending his season in a devastating blow to the champions. About Dembele and Marquinhos, PSG said both players will remain under treatment for the next few weeks.

“Before every game I asked God to let me leave the pitch healthy. But it was in vain,” Kvaratskhelia wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.

“Not much time has passed, yet one thought keeps circling in my head: why me? I never held anything back. I think I prepared for this game better than I ever had before. I thought I was ready for everything — but not for this.”

PSG peppered the Barcelona goal in the opening five minutes, with Kvaratskhelia hitting the post, before the game settled into a rhythm.

The hosts gradually took control of midfield and went ahead after Yamal surrendered possession in his own half, allowing Doue to drive a fierce low shot into the corner.

Goalkeeper Joan Garcia produced several saves to keep Barcelona in the contest before Espart, making his first Champions League start, created and finished a superb move to equalise in the 55th minute.

Ferran Torres hit the post against his former club before Hernandez headed PSG in front from a corner in the 72nd minute, starting a burst of four goals in 14 minutes.

Lamine equalised again for Barcelona with a brilliant individual effort in the 79th minute, before Vitinha responded for PSG with a fine strike 109 seconds later.

As Hansi Flick’s side searched for an equaliser, Fabian Ruiz converted an Achraf Hakimi cross at the back post to seal the victory.

“Despite today’s result, we competed well,” said captain Raphinha on Movistar+, adding that “it was a good test and shows that we can compete.”

Flick struck a similarly upbeat note.

“We need to analyse the match, but I saw some very good things and things that we should build upon. I don’t want to be negative; I’m feeling positive,” he said.

The result lifted PSG onto nine points and top of the Champions League standings, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

FODEN HITS THREE

Foden netted a hat-trick as City comfortably dispatched visitors AEK Athens.

Anderson opened the scoring for the hosts in the 12th minute before Foden doubled the advantage in the 34th.

AEK Athens pulled a goal back through Stavros Pilios in the 52nd minute, but Cherki restored City’s two-goal cushion five minutes later.

Foden added his second of the night in the 65th minute and completed his treble 11 minutes later to wrap up a dominant performance.

City manager Enzo Maresca said Foden provided evidence that his prolonged slump might finally be over.

“It is good news for me because you know he is doing well and this is what we want for many reasons,” Maresca said. “First of all, because he is a top player and we know that. Happy for him, but also happy for the team that we have one more weapon that we can use.”

LIVERPOOL FIGHTBACK

Liverpool edged Spanish side Villarreal after a stirring comeback.

The visitors stunned the home crowd when Georges Mikautadze struck in the fourth minute before Sergi Cardona doubled Villarreal’s lead in the 29th.

Liverpool’s fightback started with two headers as Mac Allister pulled a goal back in the 36th minute before Ronald Araujo equalised in first-half stoppage time. Teenager Rio Ngumoha provided the assists for both of the goals.

Mac Allister completed the turnaround with his second goal in the 65th minute, and Florian Wirtz hammered home a fourth in the 69th to cap a rampant spell for the hosts.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said there was “much more to come” from Ngumoha following the 18-year-old winger’s central role in a thrilling victory.

“He was a complete threat constantly and their defender had a tough time,” said Van Dijk, who added Ngumoha was reaping the rewards of being in the same squad as Mohamed Salah before the Liverpool great left Anfield at the end of last season.

“I think he has shown it this season but there is still much more to come.”

Tani Oluwaseyi pulled one back for Villarreal in the 87th minute, but Liverpool survived the late pressure to secure the points.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez levelled in the second half to earn them a 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart, who took the lead through Jamie Leweling before the break.

Morten Hjulmand was sent off in the 64th minute, leaving Atletico with 10 men for the closing stages.

AS Roma eased to their first Cha­mpions League win since 2019 as the capital club brushed aside pointless Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

All four Serie A clubs in the competition lost last week, but Napoli made it two wins from two on Tuesday for the Italian sides.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men were twice pegged back by Bodo/Glimt but eventually got the better of the Norwegians in a 4-3 thriller, as Scott McTominay scored a brace.

Earlier, Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 against debutants Sabah, while a 90th-minute equaliser from Pavel Kacor earned Slavia Prague a point in a 2-2 draw at Fenerbahce.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2026