Pep Guardiola was no lucky charm on his return to Manchester City as they were humbled 4-2 by ruthless title holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
City maintained their 100% Premier League start with a 3-0 statement win at rivals Liverpool on the weekend but Desiré Doué in the 13th, Ousmane Dembelé two minutes later and Vitinha in the 32nd made it 3-0 at the half.
Erling Haaland headed home for City in the 53rd, Maghnes Akliouche restored PSG’s three-goal advantage in the 63rd before Haaland struck again for his 61st goal in the elite event. Ferran Torres missed a late PSG penalty.
City were playing their first home match since being found guilty of wide-ranging financial irregularities, and Guardiola showed his support with his first return to Etihad Stadium since the end of his 10-year reign in summer.
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Liverpool meanwhile did better when Bradley Barcola’s hat-trick helped them shake off their domestic woes with a 6-3 triumph at Linzer ASK.
Ronald Araujo had opened the scoring and Jeremy Frimpong was also on target before setting up Barcola’s third and the final one from youngster Lewis Koumas. Liverpool become a bit sloppy after leading 6-1, allowing a brace from Florian Flecker after fellow-substitute Robert Ljubicic had earlier netted LASK’s first.
Big signings Barcola and Florian Wirtz came under criticism after Sunday’s defeat against City but the two and Liverpool as a whole redeemed themselves, with Wirtz registering a fine assist.
Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho returned with Real Madrid to his former club Roma and claimed an improbable 4-3 triumph from 3-1 down until the 83rd minute.
The hosts led from Marten de Roon, Kylian Mbappé levelled swiftly for the record champions with a deflected shot that looped in before a second-half brace from Donyell Malen put the Romans 3-1 up.
However, Carlos Espi poked Real’s second in the 83rd, Endrick levelled in the 85th and Antonio Rüdiger grabbed a 90th minute winner for Real.
Aston Villa thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 under the eyes of their big fan, Prince William, who could celebrate a brace each from Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley. Johan Manzambi had opened the scoring on his 21st birthday and Tammy Abrahams wrapped up matters.
Germany forward Deniz Undav scored his first season goal as visiting VfB Stuttgart won 3-0 at Slovan Bratislava, Bodø/Glimt downed Borussia Dortmund 1-0, Feyenoord defeated Como 3-2, Shakhtar Donetsk defeated AEK of Athens 3-1 and Real Betis edged Porto drew 3-2.
PSG, Liverpool, Villa and Stuttgart joined Barcelona, Arsenal and Sporting on a maximum six points atop the league standings, with matchday three following next week.
Manchester City’s Enzo Fernandez appears dejected after conceding the second goal during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium. (is associated with: «PSG humble City, Liverpool and Villa hit six, stunning Real comeback») Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola sits in the stands prior to the start of the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium. (is associated with: «PSG humble City, Liverpool and Villa hit six, stunning Real comeback») Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola celebrates scoring his side’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between LASK and Liverpool FC at Raiffeisen Arena. (is associated with: «PSG humble City, Liverpool and Villa hit six, stunning Real comeback») Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/PA Wire/dpa
Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav (R) scores his side’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between SK Slovan Bratislava and VfB Stuttgart at the National Football Stadium. (is associated with: «PSG humble City, Liverpool and Villa hit six, stunning Real comeback») Martin Baumann/TASR/dpa
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his side’s first gol during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between AS Roma and Real Madrid CF at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. (is associated with: «PSG humble City, Liverpool and Villa hit six, stunning Real comeback») Marco Iacobucci/IPA via ZUMA Press/dpa
William, Prince of Wales, celebrates Aston Villa’s fifth goal in the stands during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Aston Villa and Fenerbahce at Villa Park. (is associated with: «PSG humble City, Liverpool and Villa hit six, stunning Real comeback») David Davies/PA Wire/dpa