Famous faces in the crowd for English teams’ home matches on Wednesday. While Prince William delighted in his beloved Aston Villa’s 6-0 romp over Fenerbahce, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City homecoming was spoiled by Paris Saint-Germain showing they still represent the benchmark in European club football this season. The center-circle inquest led by Erling Haaland after Vitinha put PSG 3-0 up was a jarring contrast to the triumphalism shown when City were winning at Liverpool last weekend.
The Parisians put on a devastating display in the first half and, although the defiance City exhibited at Anfield on Sunday was on display again in the second half, PSG held on for a 4-2 win. City may soon be absent from the competition, after they were found guilty of more than 100 charges of breaking the Premier League’s financial regulations. If City wish to sign off with a valedictory trophy lift they now know the standard they must meet – and beat.
PSG have had their own issues with financial regulations in the era of petrodollar state ownership but, with the club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi a major powerbroker in European football, they have become an establishment club. While City are now pariahs, PSG have become near untouchables, not least on the field of play. But his popularity ratings are nowhere near as high in Madrid, though the manner of Real Madrid’s 4-3 comeback win over Roma will calm the gathering storm he has faced since returning to work for Florentino Pérez.
The comeback came via Madrid’s next generation: Carlos Espí, 21, pulled the scoreline back to 3-2; the unlikely aerial threat of the 5ft 8in Endrick, 20, made it 3-3; and Antonio Rüdiger scored the winner, via a second assist for Arda Güler, 21. Mourinho embracing youth is a fresh development. This week saw Mourinho block a loan move to Milan for Endrick, and he admitted in Rome: “The first half was the coach’s fault; the second half was the players’ fault.” A record 78 goals flew in this game week; the previous record was 71.
On the wrong end were the Serie A clubs. In addition to Roma’s defeat, Como lost 3-2 at Feyenoord, the decisive moment coming via an own-goal for Robert Sánchez, the keeper loaned from Chelsea. Inter also lost, 4-3 to Club Brugge, whose performances in the competition in recent years meant the result was not much of a surprise.
Napoli lost 3-1 to Villarreal, the Yellow Submarines’ first Champions League win in eight matches. Neapolitan focus was on a running battle between Massimiliano Allegri, the Napoli coach, and Kevin De Bruyne. Scott McTominay’s return to the team has pushed De Bruyne deeper.
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