Paris Saint-Germain will try to preserve their 100% record in this season’s Champions League when they face Villarreal for the first time at the Estadio de la Ceramica in eastern Spain on Tuesday.

The holders are one of five teams still unbeaten after a 4-2 win over Barcelona on matchday three. Villarreal are 19th with three points after losing 4-3 to Liverpool.

Villarreal have scored at least four goals in each of their opening three league-phase matches. Their only victory came at home against Napoli, when they recovered to win 3-1. However, the two-time semi-finalists have conceded in 14 consecutive Champions League matches and have allowed an average of 3.8 goals across their past 10 games in the competition.

Inigo Perez’s side have dropped points in two successive home matches in all competitions. They can nevertheless win consecutive Champions League matches at El Madrigal for the first time since 2008. Villarreal have failed to win their past two league-phase games after leading in the second half, including their defeat at Anfield on matchday three.

The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten in their previous two Champions League meetings with French clubs: they beat Lille 1-0 at home in 2005-06 before drawing 0-0 in France that season.

PSG are aiming to become only the second team this century to win three consecutive Champions League titles, after Real Madrid. Luis Enrique’s team began their Ligue 1 campaign without a victory in their first three matches but have been ruthless in Europe, beating Slovan Bratislava 6-1 before overcoming Manchester City and Barcelona 4-2.

Their 14 goals after three matches equal Arsenal’s total from 2010-11, the joint-highest at that stage. PSG can also win their opening four Champions League matches for the first time since 2019.

Enrique claimed his 127th competitive win as PSG manager on Monday, a club record for a coach. His side are also seeking a club-best 14th consecutive Champions League match without defeat, having currently gone 13 unbeaten. PSG have won only one of their past three league-phase away matches, but have not lost a Champions League group-stage game in Spain since a 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid in November 2015. Victory would be their 10th in a row in all competitions.

Villarreal’s injury doubts include Nathan Saliba, Alassane Diatta, Juan Foyth and Ilias Akhomach. Santiago Mourino and Tani Oluwaseyi have scored twice each in the competition, while Sergi Cardona and Georges Mikautadze also scored against Liverpool.

PSG are without Marquinhos and Ousmane Dembele because of hamstring strains, while Nuno Mendes and Alessandro Longoni have leg injuries. Georgia international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is out with a ruptured cruciate ligament. Ferran Torres and Dembele lead PSG’s league-phase scoring with three goals, while Desire Doue has scored in consecutive matches. Fabian Ruiz, Lucas Hernandez and Vitinha were also on target against Barcelona.

Probable teams: Villarreal – Gulacsi; Mourino, Navarro, Veiga, Cardona; Comesana, Gueye; Oluwaseyi; Buchanan, Mikautadze, Moleiro. PSG – Safonov; Hakimi, Beraldo, Pacho, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fernandez; Doue, Torres, Akliouche.

Suggested selections are PSG to win with fewer than 4.5 goals at 2.20, Desire Doue to score or assist at 1.80, and Achraf Hakimi to score or assist at 2.75.