PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made it three wins from three in this season’s Champions League, beating Barcelona, 4-2, thanks to late goals from Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), while Liverpool clinched a dramatic comeback victory over Villarreal.
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed AEK Athens, 5-1, while there were also much-needed wins for Roma and Napoli.
PSG kept their place at the top of the league-phase table, but could yet count the cost of injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Parc des Princes.
“We don’t feel superior to any team, but we trust in ourselves, in everyone who starts and who comes off the bench,” Paris midfielder Ruiz told Movistar. “There’s still a long way to go.”
Barcelona twice levelled against the two-time defending champions, but were ultimately well beaten as they slipped to their first defeat of the season.
“We tried to play how we wanted to play, we pressed them very high. There were a lot of fantastic things on show today,” said Flick, whose team had won their previous 11 games in all competitions this term.
Kvaratskhelia hit the post, Dembele hobbled off and Ferran Torres was denied by Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia in a fast-paced opening.
PSG took a deserved lead in the 38th minute as Desire Doue collected the ball outside the area and thumped a shot into the bottom corner.
Garcia made another excellent save shortly after the break from Achraf Hakimi, before Xavi Espart burst through to level for Barca against the run of play.
Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos both pulled up injured within seconds of each other and had to leave the field.
The home team continued to press, though, and Lucas Hernandez restored their advantage 18 minutes from time with a brilliant header. AFP
