PSG beat Manchester City 4-2 at the Etihad, Barcola hits Liverpool hat-trick

Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain won 4-2 away at embattled Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, as Bradley Barcola scored his first Liverpool goals with a hat-trick and Aston Villa recorded their biggest European win.

City were playing at the Etihad Stadium for the first time since being found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, Dawn reported, citing Reuters.

PSG run riot early

PSG raced into a three-goal lead just after the half-hour through Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha, with former City manager Pep Guardiola watching. Erling Haaland scored twice after the break, taking him to four Champions League goals this season, but Maghnes Akliouche added PSG’s fourth between his goals. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma later saved a Ferran Torres penalty.

“In the first half we were far superior to a great City side,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique. City coach Enzo Maresca said his side “deserved more” given their second-half chances. City lost by the same margin as in their last Champions League meeting with PSG in January 2025. PSG have won both games, scoring 10 goals, and face Barcelona next.

The rest of the night

• LASK 3-6 Liverpool: Barcola, a summer signing from PSG, hit a hat-trick after Ronald Araujo opened the scoring; Jeremie Frimpong and Lewis Koumas also scored for Andoni Iraola’s side, who led 4-0 before LASK hit back three times
• Roma 3-4 Real Madrid: Roma led 3-1 inside the last 10 minutes through Marten de Roon and a Donyell Malen double, but Carlos Espi and Endrick levelled and Antonio Rudiger won it at the death for Jose Mourinho’s side. Kylian Mbappe scored on his 100th Champions League appearance
• Aston Villa 6-0 Fenerbahce: Johan Manzambi scored on his 21st birthday, Nicolas Jackson struck twice, Ross Barkley added two including a penalty, and Tammy Abraham completed the club’s biggest European win
• Bodo/Glimt 1-0 Borussia Dortmund: Fredrik Sjovold scored the only goal
• Real Betis 3-2 Porto: Isco scored a late winner
• Feyenoord 3-2 Como: Giovanni van Bronckhorst got the better of Cesc Fabregas
• Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 AEK Athens: the Ukrainian club won their first home game at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge

“Obviously I think he has to enjoy this because to score a hat-trick in the Champions League is always very difficult,” Iraola said of Barcola.

Villa bounce back

Villa had failed to win in three home games, but responded to manager Unai Emery’s demand for more intensity. “Overall it was a very good match. There are still things to improve,” Emery said, praising Jackson: “Jackson is our striker.” Villa Park’s North Stand is closed for building work as capacity is raised to over 50,000.

Why it matters

PSG look every bit the champions, while City’s financial verdict seemed to hang over them in the first half. Liverpool have found a new scorer in Barcola, and Villa have rediscovered their form. Read our reports on Yamal and Barcelona’s win in Istanbul and on Manchester City’s appeal against the Premier League ruling.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn, The Express Tribune, Reuters and AFP.