PSG beat Barcelona 4-2 in the Champions League, handing the Catalans their first defeat of the season
In the third round of the UEFA Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain won 4-2 at home against Spain's Barcelona. It was Barcelona's first loss this season.
In football's UEFA Champions League, Europe's top club competition, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) beat Spain's Barcelona 4-2 (1-0) at home on Tuesday in the third round of the league phase. It was the Catalan side's first defeat of the season. PSG have won the tournament in each of the past two seasons.
How the match unfolded
PSG lost Ousmane Dembele to injury in the 20th minute, and Ferran Torres replaced him. Seven minutes later Barcelona also had to make a forced change, bringing on Fermin Lopez for the injured Dani Olmo. Desire Doue opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a precise shot from distance after a pass from Joao Neves.
After the break, in the 55th minute, full-back Xavi Esparz levelled from Fermin's assist, scoring his first Champions League goal. Lucas Hernandez put PSG back in front in the 72nd minute, heading in from a Doue corner. Lamine Yamal made it 2-2 in the 79th minute, but soon afterwards Vitinha restored the lead with a long-range strike. Four minutes before the end of normal time, Fabian Ruiz made it 4-2.
Injuries overshadowed PSG's win: besides Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos also left the game early.
Other matches of the round
Liverpool beat Spain's Villarreal 4-3 at home, claiming a third win in three games. Manchester City defeated AEK Athens 5-1, with Phil Foden scoring a hat-trick. AS Roma won 4-0 against Bratislava's Slovan, and Napoli edged Norway's Bodo/Glimt 4-3.
Stuttgart and Atletico Madrid drew 1-1, while Fenerbahce of Istanbul and Slavia Prague drew 2-2. Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 away at Baku's Sabah, who are coached by Valdis Dambrauskis, formerly head coach of RFS. PSV Eindhoven lost 1-0 to Porto.
Tournament format
This is the third season since the new format was introduced: 36 teams play in a single league, and each plays eight different opponents. The final will take place in Madrid on 5 June. Last season PSG won their second consecutive title, beating London's Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the final.
