Matchweek four of the Champions League dropped a bomb that echoed across Europe: Como hammered Lens 9-1 away from home, equalling the record for the most goals ever scored in a single Champions League game. It was an historic night that put Cesc Fabregas’s impressive side firmly on the map, as they now sit fourth in the league phase standings, right behind giants like PSG, Real Madrid, and Arsenal. While Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona kept up their ridiculous scoring pace and both Arsenal and Bayern Munich got back to winning ways, Como’s stunning performance was *the* story.
Chaos and Comebacks: How Matchweek Four Blew Up
Beyond Como’s record-setting win, this matchweek delivered some serious drama. Liverpool stumbled to a frustrating defeat at Fenerbahce, showing that even the biggest names can get caught slipping. But then you had Manchester United pulling off a stunning comeback to beat Roma. That result? It might have just saved Michael Carrick’s job, with Matheus Cunha bagging two goals on a truly remarkable night at Old Trafford. This is why we watch, right? The unexpected, the job-saving heroics, and the absolute dominance that throws the form guide out the window. Our 36-team power rankings weigh up previous Champions League performance, current results in the competition, and the real likelihood of a team going all the way this season. So, who’s riding high and who’s starting to sweat?
PSG and Barcelona: Scoring Sprees With Hidden Flaws?
Paris Saint-Germain, our reigning champions, are making absolute mincemeat out of anyone who dared to call them slow starters. Luis Enrique’s back-to-back champions usually finish outside the top eight in previous wins, but this year? They’ve exploded out of the gate in Europe. We saw it when they went 4-0 up after just 17 minutes against Villarreal, and get this: Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia weren’t even playing! Sadly, the brilliant Georgian, Kvaratskhelia, is out for the rest of the season after a ruptured ACL, a brutal blow for any team. But PSG remains *the* team to beat. Their results speak for themselves: 6-1 against Slovan Bratislava, 4-2 against Manchester City, 4-2 against Barcelona, and that devastating 6-0 demolition of Villarreal where Fabian Ruiz scored twice. They’ve got Roma, Aston Villa, Como, and Galatasaray up next.
Then there’s Barcelona, who are also pouring in the goals. But their winning start under Hansi Flick hit a wall with losses to PSG in the Champions League and Real Madrid in LaLiga. That has to raise some questions about their defense when the knockout stages hit. Yet, their attack is simply electric. Lamine Yamal is arguably the best player on the planet right now, and Raphinha isn’t far behind. The Brazilian has an astonishing 19 goals and three assists in just 13 matches across LaLiga and the Champions League, including a double in their 3-0 win over Aston Villa. They’ve beaten Feyenoord 5-1, Galatasaray 4-1, and Aston Villa 3-0. Up next: Sabah, Manchester City, Sporting, and then a rematch with Como.
Arsenal’s Steady Climb, But Can They Keep It Up?
Arsenal managed to get the result they needed against Slavia Prague, pulling out a 2-1 win even if that second half was a bit of a grind. They also had an entertaining draw last time out at Bayern Munich, a team with a fearsome home record. Mikel Arteta’s side is still unbeaten in the competition. They’ve already notched wins against Napoli (1-0) and Lille (3-0). Their upcoming fixtures include Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Real Betis, and Sabah. Can they maintain that unbeaten streak and keep pushing for the top spots? It’s going to be a tough run, but with this kind of form, anything feels possible in the Champions League.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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