On Wednesday, the Champions League spotlight swung to Paris as Paris Saint‑Germain defeated Manchester City 4‑2 in a match that underscored PSG’s status as the season’s benchmark in European competition. The French side took a 3‑0 lead after Vitinha’s strike, and despite a spirited second‑half fight from City, they could not recover. Luis Enrique admitted that “we could’ve lost this match if they scored the chances they created,” highlighting the fine margins that separate victory from defeat. The result comes at a time when City face the threat of exclusion from the competition after being found guilty of over 100 breaches of Premier League financial regulations, a development that could see them miss out on a final trophy lift.
The match also highlighted the growing divide between clubs that have embraced financial power and those that are being penalised for it. PSG, under president Nasser Al‑Khelaifi, has become an almost untouchable establishment club, while City’s reputation has suffered. Meanwhile, the Italian side Roma, under José Mourinho, struggled in the Champions League, losing 4‑3 to Real Madrid in a dramatic comeback that saw the Spanish side’s next‑generation players, including 21‑year‑old Carlos Espí and 20‑year‑old Endrick, pull the score back before Antonio Rüdiger sealed the win. Mourinho’s comments about the first half being the coach’s fault and the second half the players’ fault reflected his frustration with the team’s performance.
In Serie A, the week was dominated by defeats for the league’s big clubs. Como fell 3‑2 to Feyenoord, with an own goal from Robert Sánchez, and Inter lost 4‑3 to Club Brugge, a result that was not unexpected given the Belgian side’s recent form. Napoli were beaten 3‑1 by Villarreal, their first Champions League win in eight matches, and the match became a backdrop for a heated exchange between Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri and Kevin De Bruyne, who was pushed deeper into midfield by Scott McTominay’s return.
The week also featured two hat‑tricks, one from Bradley Barcola in Liverpool’s 6‑3 win over Lask, and the other from Nicolò Tresoldi, who helped Brugge’s 4‑3 victory. Tresoldi, a German under‑21 international born in Italy, spoke about his dual identity, saying he “always speaks Italian at home” and that he is “born in Italy too.” The Italian football community has been reflecting on its recent lack of World Cup appearances, and players like Tresoldi are seen as potential saviors.
Viking Stavanger’s Champions League outing was a highlight for Norwegian football. The club, managed jointly by Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen, drew 3‑3 with Bayern Munich after a 2‑0 lead at halftime. Harry Kane and Luis Díaz scored for Bayern, but Viking’s captain Zlatko Tripić credited the team’s ambition and resilience, saying he was “incredibly proud” and that they “need to talk more about winning Champions Leagues and Premier Leagues in terms of other things.” The draw was a testament to Viking’s growing ambition after their recent domestic successes.
Looking ahead, the third round of the Champions League will begin next week with Manchester United heading to Como for another test of their new manager, Michael Carrick. Barcelona’s 4‑1 win over Galatasaray keeps them on a perfect start to the season, and they will face PSG on Tuesday, a meeting that could decide the title race. Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Bayern may revive memories of past defeats, but the Gunners have already beaten the Germans in last season’s Champions League. The next round promises to bring further drama as clubs vie for a place in the knockout stages.