PSG Adds to Man City Misery; Rüdiger Completes Real Madrid Fightback Against Roma/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Paris Saint-Germain defeated Manchester City 4-2, while Real Madrid scored three late goals to beat Roma 4-3. Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola scored a hat trick, and Aston Villa delivered a 6-0 victory over Fenerbahçe. The results helped Champions League Matchday 2 produce a record 78 goals across Tuesday and Wednesday.
Quick Look
- PSG dominates early: Three first-half goals helped the defending champion beat Manchester City 4-2.
- Madrid rallies: Antonio Rüdiger completed a dramatic 4-3 comeback against his former club Roma.
- Scoring record: Matchday 2 produced 78 goals, surpassing the previous record of 71.
- Liverpool wins big: Bradley Barcola scored three times in a 6-3 victory at LASK.
- Villa cruises: Aston Villa overwhelmed Fenerbahçe 6-0 for its biggest European victory.
- Dortmund upset: Bodø/Glimt secured a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
Deep Look
PSG’s Fast Start Leaves Manchester City Reeling
Paris Saint-Germain added to Manchester City’s troubles Wednesday with a 4-2 Champions League victory, while Real Madrid produced a remarkable late comeback on a record-setting matchday.
The competition’s second round of matches generated 78 goals across Tuesday and Wednesday, beating the previous mark of 71 set during Matchday 3 last season.
Six of Wednesday’s nine games featured at least five goals, including Liverpool’s 6-3 victory at Austrian champion LASK.
In Manchester, two-time defending champion PSG took control with three goals before halftime, leaving City supporters — and former coach Pep Guardiola, watching from the stands — stunned.
Désiré Doué opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Within two minutes, he supplied a deft lobbed cross for Ousmane Dembélé to double the advantage.
Vitinha made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute. Visiting supporters celebrated with their backs toward the field, copying a celebration associated with City fans.
The home crowd fell quiet enough for players’ calls to carry through the stadium during the remainder of the half.
Haaland’s Double Cannot Rescue City
Erling Haaland gave City encouragement with a header in the 53rd minute, prompting Guardiola to celebrate.
But Maghnes Akliouche restored PSG’s three-goal cushion 10 minutes later.
Haaland struck again in the 75th minutebringing his Champions League tally to 61 goals in 60 appearances.
PSG had an opportunity to extend its lead in stoppage time, but Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Ferran Torres' poorly struck penalty.
The defeat came in City’s first European fixture since the club was charged with financial rule-breaking spanning nearly a decade in the Premier League.
Rüdiger Completes Real Madrid’s Dramatic Roma Comeback
Antonio Rüdiger returned to his former club and delivered Real Madrid’s last-minute winner in a remarkable 4-3 victory over Roma.
The hosts had looked in command after moving 3-1 ahead, but Madrid scored three times from the 85th minute onward.
Roma supporters welcomed returning coach José Mourinho before celebrating Marten de Roon’s powerful long-range opener in the 20th minute.
Kylian Mbappé equalized five minutes later with a deflected effort on his 100th Champions League appearance. At 27, he became the youngest player to reach that milestone.
Donyell Malen restored Roma’s lead in the 51st minute and scored again six minutes later.
Madrid’s substitutes then transformed the contest.
Carlos Espí scored in the 85th minute, and Endrick equalized within three minutes. Rüdiger completed the turnaround by finishing from close range following a corner.
The German defender, who played for Roma between 2015 and 2017, kept his celebrations restrained.
Isco’s Late Penalty Gives Betis Victory Over Porto
Real Betis overcame Porto 3-2 in a heated encounter in Seville, with Isco converting the decisive late penalty.
Abde Ezzalzouli produced one of the evening’s standout finishes after halftime, driving a shot from the corner of the penalty area into the far top corner.
Gabriel Veiga equalized with a free kick in the 55th minute. His celebration sparked a confrontation between opposing players that resulted in three bookings.
Porto substitute Samu scored just two minutes after entering the game, but Betis substitute Cucho Hernández leveled in the 74th minute.
Isco’s late spot kick settled the match.
Barcola Scores First Liverpool Goals in Hat-Trick Performance
Bradley Barcola opened his Liverpool scoring account in emphatic fashion, collecting a hat trick in a 6-3 victory at LASK.
The forward had joined Liverpool from PSG during the offseason.
Ronald Araújo also scored his first Liverpool goal, heading in a corner to open the scoring. Less than two minutes later, Barcola finished from Lewis Koumas’ layoff in the 24th minute.
Ryan Gravenberch hit the post before Florian Wirtz sent Barcola through for his second goal in the 37th minute.
Jeremie Frimpong headed Liverpool’s fourth in off the right post in the 51st minute.
LASK substitute Robert Ljubičić scored in the 63rd minute, just a minute after coming on. Liverpool responded three minutes later when Frimpong supplied Barcola for a straightforward finish to complete his hat trick.
Koumas added Liverpool’s sixth in the 72nd minute. It was the 21-year-old forward’s first goal for the club.
LASK substitute Florian Flecker gave the home supporters something more to celebrate, scoring with a diving header in the 74th minute and adding another goal four minutes later.
Aston Villa Records Its Biggest European Win
Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley scored twice apiece as Aston Villa swept aside Fenerbahçe 6-0.
Switzerland winger Johan Manzambi opened the scoring on his Champions League debut, marking his 21st birthday with a goal.
Tammy Abraham also scored as Villa registered its biggest European victory.
Bodø/Glimt Upsets Dortmund as Feyenoord Fights Back
Fredrik Sjøvold's second-half goal secured Bodø/Glimt a 1-0 upset victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Stuttgart won 3-0 at Slovan Bratislava, while Shakhtar Donetsk recovered to defeat AEK Athens 3-1 in a designated home fixture played at Chelsea’s stadium in London.
Earlier, Anis Hadj Moussa scored twice as Feyenoord came from behind to beat visiting Como 3-2.
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