Barcelona beaten by PSG again as Liverpool and Manchester City claim Champions League wins

Barcelona’s 4-2 defeat by Paris St Germain exposed the gap to Europe’s leading clubs, but Hansi Flick’s side also showed signs they are moving closer to the continent’s elite.

The loss in Paris was Barcelona’s third successive defeat by Luis Enrique’s PSG and their first defeat of the season in all competitions. PSG’s victory took them to nine points at the top of the Champions League standings, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz scored for the European champions, while Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal twice brought Barcelona level in the second half.

Barcelona had arrived at the Parc des Princes with a perfect record, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia was required to make eight first-half saves as PSG handled the intense tempo more effectively. The hosts had also threatened early, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hitting the post.

PSG took the lead in the 38th minute after Yamal lost possession in his own half, allowing Doue to fire a low shot into the corner. Barcelona were missing Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde through injury, while Marc Bernal unexpectedly started in midfield instead of Rodri.

After another save from Garcia early in the second half, Barcelona improved. Espart, 19, scored on his first Champions League start in the 55th minute after creating and finishing an impressive move.

Ferran Torres then struck the post against his former club, but Hernandez restored PSG’s lead with a header from a corner in the 72nd minute. Yamal equalised with a fine individual goal seven minutes later, only for Vitinha to put PSG ahead again 109 seconds after that.

Fabian Ruiz completed the scoring from Achraf Hakimi’s cross in the 83rd minute. The relentless match also led to injuries for PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos, as well as Barcelona’s Dani Olmo.

“Despite today’s result, we competed well,” Barcelona captain Raphinha told Movistar+, adding: “It was a good test and shows that we can compete.”

Flick said: “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.”

Liverpool recovered from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield. Georges Mikautadze and Sergi Cardona gave the visitors a 2-0 lead, but Alexis Mac Allister scored in the 36th minute before Ronald Araujo equalised in first-half stoppage time. Mac Allister put Liverpool ahead in the 65th minute and Florian Wirtz made it 4-2 four minutes later. Tani Oluwaseyi’s late goal was not enough for Villarreal.

Manchester City eased past AEK Athens 5-1, with Elliot Anderson opening the scoring and Phil Foden completing a hat-trick. Rayan Cherki also scored, while Stavros Pilios replied for Athens. Erling Haaland was an unused substitute.

Elsewhere, Julian Alvarez helped Atletico Madrid draw 1-1 with VfB Stuttgart, despite Morten Hjulmand’s dismissal. Napoli beat Bodo/Glimt 4-3, PSV Eindhoven defeated Porto 1-0 and AS Roma won 4-0 against Slovan Bratislava. Borussia Dortmund beat debutants Sabah 2-1, while Slavia Prague drew 2-2 at Fenerbahce after Pavel Kacor’s 90th-minute equaliser.