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Early PSG blitz breaks Champions League scoring record as Yellow Submarine is sunk

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Early PSG blitz breaks Champions League scoring record as Yellow Submarine is sunk
Sport

Sport

Early PSG blitz breaks Champions League scoring record as Yellow Submarine is sunk

2026-11-04 06:23 Last Updated At:06:32

VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) — A record-breaking start. A goal for a teenage debutant. Most importantly, another big win.

It was the perfect night for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

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PSG's Fabian Ruiz celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue scores their second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue scores their second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG players celebrate at the end of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG players celebrate at the end of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

The defending champion swept to a 6-0 rout of Villarreal on Tuesday to continue the 100% start to its bid for a third straight title.

It was pretty much all over after 17 minutes, with four goals sinking the Yellow Submarine — nickname of the Spanish hosts — in record time.

When Fabian Ruiz slammed home a shot for 4-0 after earlier strikes by Joao Neves, Desire Doue and Senny Mayulu, it was the fastest any team had reached four goals in a Champions League game, according to UEFA.

Ruiz scored his second of the night in the 50th and PSG's biggest win of its title defense was capped by a 78th-minute goal from David Boly, a 17-year-old defender who had come on for his Champions League debut as a substitute four minutes earlier.

PSG had faced a test of its squad strength with four of its best players missing for the trip to Spain, but coped just fine.

Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes were all missing because of thigh injuries, along with long-term absentee Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (ruptured ACL).

It didn't stop PSG easing to a 10th straight win in all competitions — and a fourth in a row to open the Champions League — though Villarreal contributed to its own downfall with dreadful defending.

The first three goals stemmed from mistakes by the home team as it played out from the back or got dispossessed in its own half.

According to UEFA, the previous fastest time a team had reached four goals in a Champions League game was 20 minutes, by Real Madrid in a 6-2 home win against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

PSG's Fabian Ruiz celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue scores their second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue scores their second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Desire Doue, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG players celebrate at the end of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG players celebrate at the end of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United staged a stunning comeback to recover from its worst start to a European home game by beating Roma 3-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Paris Saint-Germain set a new record as the quickest team to score four goals in European soccer’s top competition by powering into a 4-0 lead after 17 minutes against Villarreal on its way to a 6-0 win.

Elsewhere, Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0 and Bayern Munich won 2-0 at Atletico Madrid.

But the biggest drama of the night came at Old Trafford, where United's troubled season looked set to plunge deeper into crisis after going 2-0 down after 17 minutes against Roma.

It was the quickest United had conceded twice in any European game at its iconic stadium. But a rousing second-half performance saw Bruno Fernandes convert a retaken penalty and Matheus Cunha score twice before being sent off to seal a much-needed win for under fire coach Michael Carrick.

The joyous scenes at the end were in stark contrast to earlier, when furious United fans attempted to disrupt the match by throwing tennis balls on the field.

The pre-planned protest was the latest show of dissent from supporters who have long-called for the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, to sell their controlling stake.

A small number of balls were thrown in the 21st minute to mark 21 years since the Glazers’ staged a leveraged buyout of the storied club.

By then Roma had already raced to a 2-0 lead through Matias Soule’s 11th-minute strike and Donyell Malen’s penalty.

It could have been worse by the break, with Roma having more chances to extend the lead. But the game was turned on its head after halftime, with Fernandes’ twice-taken penalty giving the home fans hope and then Cunha sealing the comeback with goals in the 83rd and 86th.

PSG looks like the team to beat again as it chases down a hat trick of Champions League titles, which would see Luis Enrique’s team match the feat of Real Madrid from 2016-18.

Even without the injured Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the French giant had too much firepower for Villarreal, with an early goal blitz effectively putting the game to bed long before halftime at El Madrigal.

Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Senny Mayulu and Fabian Ruiz all scored inside the first 17 minutes. UEFA said it was the fastest any team had reached four goals in a Champions League game.

Ruiz and 17-year-old David Boly, four minutes after coming on as a substitute for his competition debut, added goals in the second half for PSG, which is the only team on 12 points.

There was no goal for newly-crowned Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane, but Bayern still prevailed at Atletico.

Lennart Karl and Konrad Laimer scored second-half goals for Bayern, which has eight points from four games in the league phase.

Karl capitalized on a defensive blunder to break the deadlock in the 54th and Laimer collected a precise cross from Kane to fire into the roof of the net 20 minutes later.

Raphinha scored twice for Barcelona to end Villa's perfect start to the Champions League.

Lamine Yamal fired the opening goal at Camp Nou in the seventh and Raphinha put the game beyond doubt with a double after the break.

Barcelona moved up to second in the standings, ahead of third-placed Villa on goal difference. The Spanish giant's only loss in the competition came against PSG.

Sporting Lisbon beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, a day after announcing it was parting ways with coach Rui Borges.

Under reserve coach Tiago Fernandes, the Portuguese giant picked up its third win in the Champions League this season, with Issa Doumbia scoring the decisive goal in the game at Stamford Bridge.

Aleksey Batrakov scored two goals in quick succession to seal a 2-0 win for Galatasaray against Stuttgart.

Batrakov opened the scoring in the 12th minute at RAMS Park and struck again three minutes later.

Inter Milan beat Feyenoord 3-0, LASK won 4-0 against Slovan Bratislava and Bodø/Glimt drew 0-0 with Lille.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Bayern's Konrad Laimer, centre, celebrates with Harry Kane, right, and Nathaniel Brown after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Bayern's Konrad Laimer, centre, celebrates with Harry Kane, right, and Nathaniel Brown after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Barcelona's Raphinha, center, celebrates with Fermin Lopez, left, and Anthony Gordon after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Barcelona and Aston Villa in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Raphinha, center, celebrates with Fermin Lopez, left, and Anthony Gordon after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Barcelona and Aston Villa in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

PSG's Fabian Ruiz celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha scores his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and AS Roma in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha scores his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and AS Roma in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and AS Roma in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and AS Roma in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane holds the Ballon d'Or trophy ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane holds the Ballon d'Or trophy ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

FILE - Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery celebrates with the trophy after the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

FILE - Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery celebrates with the trophy after the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Alaves in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Alaves in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick attends a training session in Manchester, England, Monday Nov. 2, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick attends a training session in Manchester, England, Monday Nov. 2, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick, center, reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United in London, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick, center, reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United in London, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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