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It was largely business as usual in matchweek four of the Champions League as Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona kept on scoring and Arsenal and Bayern Munich returned to winning ways while remaining unbeaten.
But the story of the round belonged to Como, who made history by beating Lens 9-1 away from home and equalling the record for the most goals scored in a single Champions League game. Cesc Fabregas’s impressive side now sit fourth in the league phase standings, behind PSG, Real Madrid and Arsenal.
Meanwhile, there was a frustrating defeat for Liverpool at Fenerbahce, but Manchester United produced a stunning comeback to beat Roma and potentially save Michael Carrick’s job, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice on a remarkable night at Old Trafford.
We compiled our 36-team power rankings by combining team’s previous performance in the Champions League, their results in the competition so far, and the likelihood of them going all the way this season.
Agree or disagree with our standings? Let us know and have your say in the comments below.
Results: 6-1 vs Slovan Bratislava, 4-2 v Man City, 4-2 v Barcelona, 6-0 v Villarreal
Fixtures: Roma (h), Aston Villa (a), Como (a), Galatasaray (h)
The reigning champions are making a mockery of suggestions that they are slow starters in the Champions League. Luis Enrique’s back-to-back champions finished outside the top eight in both of their previous successes but have started this campaign on fire in Europe. PSG were 4-0 up after just 17 minutes at Villarreal, and that was without Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The French champions will be without the brilliant Georgian for the rest of the season after he suffered a ruptured ACL but they remain the team to beat.
Results: 5-1 v Feyenoord, 4-1 v Galatasaray, 2-4 v PSG, 3-0 v Aston Villa
Fixtures: Sabah (a), Manchester City (h), Sporting (a), Como (h)
Defeats to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in LaLiga ended their winning start under Hansi Flick and perhaps raised the same concerns over whether their defence holds up come the knockout stages. But Lamine Yamal is arguably the world’s best player on current form and Raphinha isn’t too bad, either. The Brazilian made it an astonishing 19 goals and three assists in just 13 matches across LaLiga and the Champions League with his double in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Camp Nou.
Results: 1-0 vs Napoli, 3-0 v Lille, 2-2 v Bayern Munich, 2-1 v Slavia Prague
Fixtures: Borussia Dortmund (h), Real Madrid (h), Real Betis (a), Sabah (h)
Mikel Arteta’s got the result they needed in Prague, even if a difficult second-half performance made it a bit of a struggle. An entertaining draw last time out at Bayern Munich, who have such a strong home record, gave a good account of whether the Premier League champions can take the next step against a heavyweight side in the business end of the Champions League.
Results: 5-0 v Bodo/Glimt, 3-3 v Viking, 2-2 v Arsenal, 2-0 v Atletico Madrid
Fixtures: Lille (a), Slavia Prague (h), Manchester United (a), Real Betis (h)
Bayern returned to winning ways with a professional win against Atletico Madrid – and the big surprise was that Harry Kane was not on the scoresheet. The Ballon d’Or holder’s 10-match scoring run in the Champions League came to an end at the Metropolitano, missing the chance to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record. But Bayern rolled on.
Results: 2-1 v Inter Milan, 4-3 v Roma, 4-1 v RB Leipzig, 3-2 v AEK Athens
Fixtures: PSV (h), Arsenal (a), LASK (h), Shakhtar (a)
Perhaps chaos is the new normal under Jose Mourinho. Real Madrid trailed late on in Athens but Kylian Mbappe equalised before Fede Valverde scored a stunning winner in stoppage time. Jude Bellingham also scored an outrageous flick. Somehow with maximum points, despite trailing Roma 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico, and Inter and RB Leipzig spurning chances to take the lead at the Bernabeu, the 15-time Champions League winners continue to find a way.
Results: 2-0 v Porto, 2-4 v PSG, 5-1 v AEK Athens, 3-2 v Leipzig
Fixtures: Napoli (h), Barcelona (a), Lens (a), Sporting (a)
Back-to-back defeats in the Premier League have the shine off an impressive start for Enzo Maresca’s side, while uncertainty off the pitch remains as well. But a battling win at RB Leipzig, with a customary Erling Haaland goal, was a good response. Next up: the return of Kevin De Bruyne with Napoli, followed by a mouthwatering trip to Barcelona.
Results: 2-1 v Atletico Madrid, 6-3 v LASK, 4-3 v Villarreal, 2-3 v Fenerbahce
Fixtures: Club Brugge (a), Porto (h), Inter (a), Lens (h)
Liverpool have conceded three goals in three consecutive games in the Champions League or European Cup for the first time and the manner of their “messy” collapse against Fenerbahce was a concern. The nature of Liverpool’s squad means Andoni Iraola has needed to rotate in Champions League but Liverpool’s performance in Istanbul underlined the task he faces. In-form Club Brugge can’t be taken lightly after the international break.
Results: 3-2 v Club Brugge, 6-0 v Fenerbahce, 3-1 v Viking, 0-3 v Barcelona
Fixtures: Galatasaray (a), PSG (h), Borussia Dortmund (h), Slavia Prague (a)
Despite defeat in the Camp Nou, you get the feeling that Unai Emery’s new-look Aston Villa will have learned a lot from their meeting with Barcelona. They had moments of threat, too. Bright showings from the refreshed attacking line-up of Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Mbaye and Alysson have helped the Europa League winners retaining their identity under Emery despite the huge squad turnover in the summer.
Results: 1-2 v Real Madrid, 3-4 v Club Brugge, 1-0 v Shakhtar, 3-0 v Feyenoord
Fixtures: Stuttgart (h), Borussia Dortmund (a), Liverpool (h), Slovan Bratislava (a)
After starting with back-to-back defeats, how badly Inter needed to respond with back-to-back wins. A comfortable win at Feyenoord also came after Saturday’s Milan derby defeat, with Pio Esposito stepping up amid Lautaro Martinez’s continued absence.
Results: 4-1 v RB Leipzig, 2-3 v Feyenoord, 4-1 v Manchester United, 9-1 v Lens
Fixtures: AEK Athens (h), Real Betis (a), Paris Saint Germain (h), Barcelona (a)
WOW. If Como announced themselves by thrashing Manchester United, the Champions League debutants stole the show this week with a NINE-goal dismantling of poor Lens. Cesc Fabregas’s stylish side became the first team to score nine goals away from home in the Champions League or European Cup since 1971. The Italian side are certainly making a name for themselves. Those games against PSG and Barcelona at the end of the league phase are going to be fascinating.
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