Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain scored four times in the first 17 minutes on their way to a 6-0 demolition of Villarreal in Spain in the Champions League on Tuesday, as the French side shrugged off injuries to key players to maintain their perfect record in the competition this season.

Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Senny Mayulu and Fabian Ruiz all struck at the Estadio de la Ceramica as PSG set a record for the fastest team to score four times in a match in Europe'e elite club competition.

Ruiz added another early in the second half and teenager David Boly completed a comprehensive demolition of the side that finished third in La Liga last season.

"I obviously wasn't expecting that but you get matches where you start in that way," PSG's Spanish coach Luis Enrique told broadcaster Canal Plus.

"We were impressive throughout and we are really pleased even if it is very difficult for Villarreal. But it is hard when you play against a team like us that presses constantly."

PSG have lost star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the rest of the campaign after he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in last month's win over Barcelona, while Ousmane Dembele, with captain Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes are also missing.

Despite that, the Ligue 1 leaders made it 10 straight wins in all competitions, including four in the Champions League as they aim to lift the European Cup for a third season running.

They are the only team to have maximum points after four matches in this year's Champions League.

Liverpool, Real Madrid and Real Betis all have maximum points from three games before playing on Wednesday, and Luis Enrique's prolific side have now scored 20 goals on that run.

Like all matches in the Champions League on Tuesday, a minute's silence was held prior to kick-off in tribute to Jesus de Miguel, the Tenerife player who died following a collision in a Spanish second-division game on Monday.

The poignant silence was also held to remember the victims of last week's deadly train crash in Spain, in which 69 people were killed.

Meanwhile, Raphinha struck twice to propel Barcelona to a 3-0 Champions League win over visitors Aston Villa, ending the English side's perfect start to the competition.

Five-time winners Barcelona took an early lead through Lamine Yamal before Raphinha continued his fine goalscoring form with a second-half brace.

Barca bounced back after defeat by champions Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European outing to stay in the hunt for a top eight league phase berth.

Unai Emery's Villa competed well in the first half but were eventually undone by Barca's greater ability in the final third.

The Champions League anthem was not played before the game, as a mark of respect for Tenerife striker Jesus De Miguel, who died on Tuesday morning after an on-pitch collision in a Spanish second division match the previous day, provoking shock across the football world.

"Yes it was (a good win), I want to dedicate this win to the fans, but today I don't want to talk about football, I want to send a message to the family of Jesus. May he rest in peace," Raphinha told Movistar.

"This can happen to anyone, it's very tough... you're going to play a game and the same thing can happen to you...

"From the club, I want to send a message of strength to the family."

Villa captain John McGinn had only visited the Camp Nou once previously, on a summer holiday as an eight-year-old, and might have expected better weather than the downpour both teams were subjected to.

The skipper might also have expected a more focused start, with Villa handing Barcelona the lead in the seventh minute.

The Spanish champions pressed Aston Villa extremely high and Joao Gomes played a poor pass straight to Yamal in his own box. The 19-year-old winger gladly took the gift and stroked past Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

"Tonight was a huge learning curve for us and I am sure it will stand us in good stead for the future," McGinn told TNT Sports.

"Barcelona made the right decisions at the right times and scored really good goals."

Yamal's goal was his 14th in the competition across his career, beating Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe's previous record tally of 13 netted as a teenager in the Champions League.

Emery, who endured one of the worst nights of his career away at Barca when helming PSG in 2017 during a 6-1 defeat, may have feared the worst.

However Villa reacted strongly and Matty Cash had a vicious drive deflected narrowly wide before Joao Cancelo blocked Gomes's effort.

Suzuki saved from Anthony Gordon as Villa again struggled to bring the ball out from the back under Barca's pressing.

Garcia was called into action again by Johan Manzambi as the match lurched from end-to-end.

Barcelona extended their lead early in the second half when Fermin Lopez fed Raphinha, who showed quick footwork before finding the bottom corner.

Cancelo set up Raphinha for Barcelona's third with a superb cross with the outside of his boot. The Brazil winger, who has made the number nine position his own this season, pounced from close range for his 19th goal across all competitions.

Yamal sent a shot skidding wide as Barcelona probed for a fourth. It did not come, but the Catalan giants were able to record a first Champions League clean sheet in 19 games. (AFP)


Edited by Robert Kemp