This Tuesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 0–6 victory (see video highlights of Villarreal vs. PSG) against Villarreal on matchday 4 of the 2026–2027 Champions League at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Here are the highs and lows from this win.
The hits
❤️ An unplayable Paris side—and not just in front of goal
Four goals within the first 17 minutes and a 6–0 final score: Paris turned a European away fixture into a masterclass. But the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story; PSG demonstrated various ways to inflict damage, all executed with the same high standards.
- João Neves opened the scoring from a corner, following a setup by Pacho.
- Shortly after, Doué capitalized on high pressing from Mayulu and Neves to extend the lead.
The threat came both from their play in possession and their work to win the ball back. Villarreal were overwhelmed because Paris presented them with a series of different challenges—all in rapid succession—leaving them no time to catch their breath.
Fabián Ruiz: The midfielder who finishes the job
Ruiz added a brace to Paris’s dominant performance. His first goal, in the 17th minute off an assist from Akliouche, capped off a devastating start. His second, in the 50th minute, continued the masterclass after the break. Even with the match already well in hand, the Spaniard didn’t just coast.
His ability to get on the end of moves highlights a key strength of Luis Enrique’s system: the midfielders play a full role in the attacking threat. Ruiz doesn’t leave the responsibility of converting the team’s collective superiority solely to the forwards—and when he provides that kind of clinical finishing, the opposition has even fewer answers.
Mayulu and Boly: The youth academy steps up
Selected to lead the line ahead of Ferran Torres, Mayulu immediately proved Luis Enrique’s decision right. He was involved in the pressing sequence that led to Doué’s goal, and then scored one himself in the 13th minute. His contribution goes beyond mere finishing; he also plays a key role in forcing errors from the opposition.
Boly rounded off the evening in the 78th minute by netting Paris’s sixth goal. While the circumstances were certainly favorable, seeing two academy-grown players contribute to such a victory is truly satisfying. These youngsters are making their mark on the performance itself, not just appearing on the team sheet.
The misses
Villarreal: unable to stem the tide
Conceding a goal against this PSG side can happen. However, allowing the match to completely unravel between the 9th and 17th minutes points to a deeper issue. After the opening goal, Villarreal found no way to slow Paris down or maintain secure possession.
PSG’s pressing, in particular, exploited their struggles in playing out from the back. While PSG’s superiority explains a great deal, the Spanish side’s inability to respond after the initial blows also accounts for the scale of the thrashing.
The “too weak” opponent fallacy
At the time of the draw, the trip to face Villarreal was considered a potential banana skin. It is true that the Spanish club’s situation has deteriorated since then. But to attribute this dominant display solely to the weakness of the opposition would be a convenient way to dismiss the work put in by Paris.
One can acknowledge Villarreal’s limitations while also recognizing what Paris forced upon them—the two go hand in hand. A challenging draw shouldn’t mean that PSG must suffer in order to earn praise. Otherwise, we might as well ask them to start every match two goals down just to make the analysis “acceptable.”
An infirmary that the scoreline doesn’t empty
The one drawback for Paris remains the list of absentees: Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, and Marquinhos were all still missing. The team compensated remarkably well, but that does not make their unavailability any less significant.
While this evening confirms the quality of the options available, it does not mean Paris can afford to remain without these key players as the season continues.
