PSG make Champions League history, Barcelona cruise past Aston Villa
Paris Saint-Germain smashed a Champions League record with a stunning 6-0 victory over Villarreal, while Barcelona ended Aston Villa's perfect run with a convincing 3-0 win. However, Rodri's injury cast a shadow over the night.
by Debodinna Chakraborty · India TodayIn Short
- PSG scored four goals inside 17 minutes to set a new Champions League record
- Barcelona defeated Aston Villa 3-0, but Rodri was forced off with a suspected calf injury
- Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid 2-0, with 18-year-old Lennart Karl making history
Paris Saint-Germain made Champions League history with a record-breaking start to their 6-0 demolition of Villarreal, while Barcelona delivered an impressive 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Camp Nou on Tuesday. The defending champions produced a ruthless attacking display despite missing several key players, while Barcelona brought Villa's perfect start in the competition to an end.
PSG were without Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes and long-term absentee Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but their absence barely showed as Luis Enrique's side overwhelmed Villarreal. The French champions scored four times inside the opening 17 minutes, setting a new benchmark in the competition before adding two more goals after the break.
Barcelona, meanwhile, were equally convincing against an Aston Villa side that had won their opening three matches in the league phase. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring early before Raphinha struck twice in the second half to seal a comfortable win. However, the result was tempered by an injury concern surrounding Spain midfielder Rodri, who was forced off at half-time.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 despite being without head coach Vincent Kompany, while Manchester United recovered from a two-goal deficit to defeat Roma 3-2 at Old Trafford. It was a night of significant results across Europe, with PSG and Barcelona providing two of the standout performances.
PSG MAKE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY
PSG needed just 16 minutes and two seconds to score four goals against Villarreal, setting a new Champions League record. The previous benchmark belonged to Real Madrid, who had reached four goals in 20 minutes during their 6-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.
Joao Neves opened the scoring in the ninth minute, reacting quickest to a loose ball after a corner. Desire Doue doubled the advantage in the 12th minute before Senny Mayulu struck just a minute later. Fabian Ruiz completed the extraordinary burst in the 17th minute, with Villarreal's defensive errors playing a part in the three goals that followed Neves' opener.
The defending champions did not take their foot off the pedal after the break. Ruiz scored his second of the night before 17-year-old David Boly came off the bench to mark his Champions League debut with a goal in the 78th minute. The 6-0 victory kept PSG at the top of the league-phase standings with 12 points from four matches.
BARCELONA CRUISE, RODRI INJURY SPARKS CONCERN
Barcelona made a statement of their own by ending Aston Villa's winning run in the competition. Yamal gave the hosts an early lead in the seventh minute after intercepting a misplaced pass from Joao Gomes, cutting inside and finding the bottom corner.
Raphinha then took centre stage after the break. The Brazilian scored in the 52nd minute with a deflected effort before completing his brace in the 64th, meeting Joao Cancelo's clever outside-of-the-foot delivery with a first-time finish. The result lifted Barcelona to second in the standings, ahead of Villa on goal difference.
However, Rodri's withdrawal at half-time cast a shadow over the victory. The Spain international was replaced by Marc Bernal after experiencing muscular pain, with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick confirming a suspected calf problem. The club were awaiting further examinations on Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury.
The timing could hardly be more concerning for Barcelona, who travel to face Atletico Madrid in a crucial La Liga meeting on Sunday. They currently lead their rivals by two points. Villa, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat in the league phase after three successive victories, with Unai Emery admitting his team needed to learn how to compete better against the competition's strongest sides.
MORE RESULTS FROM EUROPE
Bayern Munich defeated Atletico Madrid 2-0, with 18-year-old Lennart Karl opening the scoring in the 54th minute. The youngster became the fourth-youngest player to reach five Champions League goals, while Konrad Laimer sealed the victory after being set up by Harry Kane.
Manchester United came from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2, with Bruno Fernandes converting a retaken penalty before Matheus Cunha scored twice. Cunha was sent off late on, but United held on for their first win in 10 matches.
Galatasaray defeated Stuttgart 2-0, Sporting Lisbon beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 and Inter Milan secured a 3-0 win over Feyenoord. LASK thrashed Slovan Bratislava 4-0, while Bodo/Glimt and Lille played out a goalless draw.
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