Champions League Matchday 3: PSG Beat Barcelona, Kvaratskhelia's ACL and Kane vs. Arsenal
The champions keep winning, a star goes down and the Premier League's giants have mixed nights. Here is what mattered.
Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League delivered drama across Europe, from a heavyweight clash in Paris to a stunning upset in Italy. Here are the biggest takeaways.
PSG Beat Barcelona but Lose Kvaratskhelia
The back-to-back European champions showed why they remain the team to beat. Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona, ending Hansi Flick's side's 11-game winning streak with suffocating intensity and late goals.
The win came at a cost. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffered a ruptured ACL and will undergo surgery, and Ousmane Dembélé was also forced off. Coach Luis Enrique now faces big questions about his front line as PSG chase a Champions League three-peat.
Barcelona will have little time to regroup: they host Real Madrid on Sunday. Read our El Clásico preview.
Kane Shows Arsenal What They're Missing
Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a draw, but the headline belonged to Harry Kane. The Bayern striker scored a penalty and carried the attack, a reminder to Arsenal of exactly the type of center forward they lack. Bayern were missing Jamal Musiala to injury and Michael Olise to suspension.
Kane is the favorite for this year's award; see why in our Ballon d'Or 2026 guide.
Manchester United's Nightmare in Como
The shock of the round came in Italy. Como, coached by Cesc Fàbregas in an unprecedented Champions League showdown, beat Manchester United. Afterward, captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to criticize the tactics, setting off a crisis. Read more in our Manchester United crisis breakdown.
Premier League Power in the Europa League
The Premier League's strength showed in the Europa League too, where Bournemouth beat AC Milan 3-0. The night turned ugly for Milan off the field: the club condemned "serious and unacceptable racist abuse" aimed at goalkeeper Mike Maignan on social media after his red card.
Other Storylines
- Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha made a strong case for a bigger role.
- Real Madrid faced RB Leipzig as José Mourinho's side tuned up for the Clásico.
- PSG's weekend league match against Lyon was moved to Monday at the request of Paris police, the same weekend as the NFL's Paris game.
Follow the road to the final in our soccer coverage.
Background from Wikipedia
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League (UCL), commonly known as the Champions League, is an annual club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by top-division European clubs. The competition begins with a round robin league phase to qualify for the two-legged knockout rounds and the single-leg final. It is the most-watched club competition in the world and the third most-watched football competition overall, after the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. It is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in European football, played by the national league champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of their national associations.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won PSG vs. Barcelona in the Champions League?
Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona, ending Barça's 11-game winning streak.
How long is Kvaratskhelia out?
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffered a ruptured ACL and will undergo surgery, an injury that typically sidelines players for many months.
What happened in Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal?
Bayern and Arsenal drew. Harry Kane scored a penalty for Bayern.
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