A big week for<\/p>\n
Famous faces in the crowd for English teams\u2019 home matches on Wednesday. While Prince William delighted in his beloved Aston Villa\u2019s 6-0 romp over Fenerbahce<\/a>, Pep Guardiola\u2019s Manchester City homecoming<\/a> was spoiled by Paris Saint-Germain showing<\/a> they still represent the benchmark in European club football this season.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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. \u201cWe could\u2019ve lost this match if they scored the chances they created,\u201d said a magnanimous Luis Enrique.<\/p>\n City may soon be absent from the competition, after they were found guilty<\/a> of more than 100 charges of breaking the Premier League\u2019s financial regulations. If City wish to sign off with a valedictory trophy lift they now know the standard they must meet \u2013 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHe who brings glory to Rome, Rome honors for ever,\u201d read a banner in the Stadio Olimpico. \u201cYour hands are blessed and the people will give you eternal glory!\u201d Jos\u00e9 Mourinho won hearts during his time in charge of Roma. But his popularity ratings are nowhere near as high in Madrid, though the manner of Real Madrid\u2019s 4-3 comeback win<\/a> over Roma will calm the gathering storm he has faced since returning to work for Florentino P\u00e9rez. The comeback came via Madrid\u2019s next generation: Carlos Esp\u00ed, 21, pulled the scoreline back to 3-2; the unlikely aerial threat of the 5ft 8in Endrick, 20, made it 3-3; and Antonio R\u00fcdiger scored the winner, via a second assist for Arda G\u00fcler, 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: \u201cThe first half was the coach\u2019s fault; the second half was the players\u2019 fault.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s defeat, Como lost 3-2 at Feyenoord, the decisive moment coming via an own-goal for Robert S\u00e1nchez, 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\u2019 first Champions League<\/a> win in eight matches. Neapolitan focus was on a running battle between Massimiliano Allegri, the Napoli coach, and Kevin De Bruyne. Scott McTominay\u2019s return to the team has pushed De Bruyne deeper. The Belgian made clear his feelings on playing there with some highly demonstrative body language.<\/p>\n Player of the week<\/p>\n There were two hat-tricks this week. Bradley Barcola ignited his Liverpool career with a treble at Lask, whose defending during their 6-3 defeat<\/a> was suboptimal to say the least. That 4-3 Brugge win was mostly thanks to Nicol\u00f2 Tresoldi. The striker was born in Italy, but moved to Hanover when he was 13, and he plays for Germany\u2019s under-21s. Italian soul-searching after missing out on the last three World Cups has cast Tresoldi as a new savior. \u201cI always speak Italian at home; I was born in Italy too,\u201d he said post-match. \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n Paolo Di Canio, on Sky Italia, was pessimistic: \u201cHe has already chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a memorable night for Viking. Photograph: Lise \u00c5serud\/NTB\/APClub in focus: Viking Stavanger<\/p>\n