{"id":48615,"date":"2026-10-21T09:57:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T07:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/?post_type=news&#038;p=48615"},"modified":"2026-10-21T09:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T07:57:23","slug":"psg-sink-barcelona-in-six-goal-thriller-liverpool-man-city-win","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/psg-sink-barcelona-in-six-goal-thriller-liverpool-man-city-win\/","title":{"rendered":"PSG sink Barcelona in six-goal thriller, Liverpool, Man City win"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><span class=\"spanWithBackgroundColor\" style=\"font-family: var(--global--font-secondary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);\">Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) <\/span><span style=\"font-family: var(--global--font-secondary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);\">underlined their status as European champions by beating Barcelona 4-2 in a blockbuster Champions League clash on Tuesday, while Liverpool and Manchester City \u200balso claimed victories.<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"x_ms-outlook-mobile-signature\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz scored for PSG, with Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal twice pulling Barcelona level \u200cin the second half.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Phil Foden scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester City to a 5-1 win over AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also on the scoresheet as Erling Haaland was rested.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Barcelona arrived at the \u200bParc des Princes with a perfect record across all competitions this season, but PSG proved more clinical in a breathless contest to hand the Catalans their first \u200bdefeat of the campaign.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The relentless tempo took its toll, with PSG\u2019s Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos, along with Barcelona\u2019s Dani \u2060Olmo, all forced off through injury.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>PSG peppered the Barcelona goal in the opening five minutes, with Kvaratskhelia hitting the post, before the game settled into a rhythm.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The \u200bhosts gradually took control of midfield and went ahead after Yamal surrendered possession in his own half, allowing Doue to drive a fierce low shot into the corner.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Goalkeeper \u200bJoan Garcia produced several saves to keep Barcelona in the contest before Espart, making his first Champions League start, created and finished a superb move to equalise in the 55th minute.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Ferran Torres hit the post against his former club before Hernandez headed PSG in front from a corner in the 72nd minute, starting a burst of four goals in 14 minutes.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Lamine equalised again for \u200bBarcelona with a brilliant individual effort in the 79th minute, before Vitinha responded for PSG with a fine strike 109 seconds later.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>As Hansi Flick\u2019s side searched for \u200ban equaliser, Fabian Ruiz converted an Achraf Hakimi cross at the back post to seal the victory.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The result lifted PSG onto nine points and top of the Champions League standings, ahead of Liverpool \u200con goal \u2060difference.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u2014Reuters\u2014<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":16119,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[20],"class_list":["post-48615","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-sport","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Phil Foden scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester City to a 5-1 win over AEK Athens","published_date":"","news_description":"Phil Foden scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester City to a 5-1 win over AEK 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