PSG Beat Barcelona 4:2, but Paid With Kvaratskhelia's Torn Ligament

PSG 4:2 Barcelona: Paris showed why they're the favourites

PSG beat Barcelona 4:2 at the Parc des Princes and extended their unbeaten run in the Champions League to 13 matches. The goals came from Désiré Doué (38'), Lucas Hernández with a header from a corner, Vitinha with a volley from outside the box and Fabián Ruiz from a low cross by Achraf Hakimi. For Barcelona, debutant Xavi Espart found the net after the break and Lamine Yamal in the 78th minute. The Parisians now have nine points from three rounds, the Catalans six, and Barcelona have conceded in 18 consecutive matches in the Champions League. Hansi Flick said after the game: "The Champions League is won in June." True - except the road to June runs through autumn.

The price of victory: Kvaratskhelia with a torn ligament

The celebration in Paris lasted until the medical report. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after landing awkwardly in a duel with Espart just before the 60th minute. Surgery follows in the coming days, and PSG gave no timeline for his return - the injury could cost him the rest of the season. The Georgian, named Champions League player of the season last year, isn't the only casualty: Ousmane Dembélé came off as early as the 19th minute with a left thigh injury, and captain Marquinhos went off around the hour mark with a problem in his right thigh. Left-back Nuno Mendes was already missing. Three points on the table, and an injury list longer than the scoresheet.

Liverpool from 0:2 to 4:3 against Villarreal

Liverpool first made themselves a problem, then solved it. Villarreal went 2:0 up in the first half hour - Georges Mikautadze punished a mistake by Virgil van Dijk, and Sergi Cardona added a second with a fine finish. Then Alexis Mac Allister woke up: first with a header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner, and after the hour mark with a second goal from a cross by young Rio Ngumoha. The equaliser came right at the end of the half, Florian Wirtz made it 4:2 in the 68th minute, and Tani Oluwaseyi pulled one back for 4:3. With the win Liverpool drew level with PSG at the top of the table. The irony is in the contract: last month Mac Allister said he was "very sad" the club hadn't offered him a new one. He's now making the strongest argument in those talks on the pitch.

Gaštarov at Red Star until 2031

The best Macedonian football news from yesterday came from Belgrade. Matej Gaštarov extended his contract with Red Star until 2031, even though his current deal ran until 2029. The midfielder joined the Serbian champions in August 2024 from Vardar's youth ranks, having previously also come through the Metalurg academy. The turning point came with the arrival of Albert Riera on the bench: Gaštarov forced his way into the first team and earned a regular place in the national team too. "This is the fulfilment of a dream I've had since I was little," he said. When a club like Red Star rushes to get a new signature while the old one is still valid, the message is clear - it doesn't want to wait for someone else to call.

Shkëndija tie down their own: Xheladini and Abdurahmani on professional contracts

In Tetovo the recipe is older than any transfer window: you keep what you've raised. Shkëndija signed professional contracts with two young players from their academy. Lirian Xheladini, who turns 19 soon, committed for two years - he made his senior debut last season and has had chances in this league campaign too. Eighteen-year-old left-back Anes Abdurahmani signed for three and a half years, after debuting in the 4:1 win over Bregalnica and five appearances for the first team. Sporting director Erhan Selimi says the club will keep giving young players a chance. The question is whether it will also give them time - or whether the first offer from abroad will arrive faster than the first serious season.