PSG beats Barcelona in Champions League thriller as Liverpool completes rousing comeback
Updated on: 21 Oct 2026, 6:46 am PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain was too powerful for even Lamine Yamal's magic as it ended Barcelona's 11-game winning run to top the Champions League table. A thrilling end to the game with four goals in the last 20 minutes delivered a statement win for PSG, which is joined Liverpool as the only teams with three victories after Alexis Mac Allister led a rousing 4-3 comeback triumph over Villarreal on Tuesday.
Yamal had just displayed stunning skill to level the score at 2-2 from a narrow angle when PSG took the lead again through Vitinha, before Fabian Ruiz added another for a 4-2 victory. "We never feel like we're powerless, or that we're beaten in any way," PSG forward Désiré Doué said.
"We always know there's an opportunity as long as the final whistle hasn't gone," Injuries to stars Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia took some of the shine off the win for PSG, which could now face having to cope without two of its biggest difference-makers in attack. Barcelona needs to bounce back quickly ahead of a Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday, now that its run of wins to start the season has ended.
Defending champion PSG equalled a club record by going 13 Champions League games unbeaten. Doué and Lucas Hernandez also scored for PSG.
Xavi Espart struck Barcelona's other goal. "We made too many mistakes in this game, with the ball possession, easy ball losses," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said.
"This was a great test for us, you saw today in which areas we have to improve to make things better." Flick added Rodri would play Sunday against Madrid after coming off the bench for the last half-hour. The game took place with a visible police presence outside, against the backdrop of violent unrest across France.
What began in France as protests against school conditions has expanded to include a wide range of other groups and causes. There have been violent clashes, fires and looting.
Mac Allister and Ngumoha turn it around for Liverpool Eighteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha played a starring role in Liverpool's comeback, setting up goals for Ronald Araujo, Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz. Liverpool had been 2-0 down after an erratic start, which included captain Virgil van Dijk holding up his hands in apology after his wayward header allowed Georges Mikautadze to score the opener for Villarreal.
Manchester City bounced back from defeat to PSG with a slick 5-1 win against AEK Athens, with top scorer Erling Haaland on the bench.