PSG beat Barcelona as Liverpool fight back to defeat Villarreal

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Barcelona 4-2 in Paris, while Liverpool came from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League.

Barcelona’s perfect start to the season ended at the Parc des Princes as PSG proved more clinical in an entertaining contest.

PSG threatened early, with Kvaratskhelia hitting the post and Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia making several saves to deny the hosts.

PSG took the lead in the 38th minute when Doue fired a powerful low shot into the corner after Lamine Yamal lost possession in Barcelona’s half.

Barcelona equalised in the 55th minute through Espart, who created and finished a fine move to score on his first Champions League start.

Hernández restored PSG’s lead in the 72nd minute with a header from a corner, but Yamal levelled again with an individual effort in the 79th minute.

Vitinha put PSG ahead again less than two minutes later before Fabian Ruiz scored the fourth goal to seal the victory.

The win took PSG to nine points and the top of the Champions League standings, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said his team would focus on the positives from the match.

“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.

At Anfield, Villarreal took a two-goal lead in the 29th minute through Mikautadze and Cardona.

Liverpool fought back with goals from Mac Allister in the 36th minute and Ronald Araujo in first-half stoppage time to level the score.

Mac Allister scored again, while Florian Wirtz added another goal to put Liverpool ahead. Tani Oluwaseyi scored Villarreal’s third, but Liverpool held on to win 4-3.

At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City defeated AEK Athens 5-1, with Phil Foden scoring a hat-trick and Eliot Anderson and Ryan Cherki also finding the net. Stavros Pilios scored Athens’ only goal.

In other matches, Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 with Stuttgart, Napoli beat Bodo/Glimt 4-3, Roma defeated Slovan Bratislava 4-0, and Borussia Dortmund beat Sabah 2-1.

More Champions League Matchday Three matches are scheduled for Wednesday, including Bayern Munich against Arsenal at the Allianz Arena.