Champions League power rankings: PSG and Barcelona lead the pack ahead of Paris showdown

Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona arrive at matchday three as the clear frontrunners of this year's Champions League. Both clubs have taken maximum points from their opening two games and will meet next week at the Parc des Princes, with both attacks firing on all cylinders and their status as favourites reinforced by two commanding away performances. The holders edged past Manchester City at the Etihad, while the Catalan side came from behind to beat Galatasaray in Istanbul.

• PSG and Barcelona meet in Paris with six points and two wins apiece.
• Barcelona have won ten consecutive games and scored 43 goals in their opening ten matches.
• Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Aston Villa also have perfect records in Europe.
• Aston Villa break into the top 10 after a record European victory over Fenerbahce.

Back-to-back champions PSG strike first at the Etihad

Luis Enrique's side showed two very different faces during their 4-2 win over Manchester City. The first half was among the most dominant displays the Champions League has seen in recent years, with fast, precise and devastating football that completely dismantled the English side. The second period brought more uncertainty, as City came dangerously close to mounting an improbable comeback.

That blistering start reinforces the idea that the Parisians know how to peak when it matters most, as they have already proven by winning their last two continental titles. PSG remain the team to beat, and their status as reigning champions gives them credibility even if they struggle at times during the league phase. Next week's home match against Barcelona will be a serious test of their current level.

Flick's Barcelona are flying with Lamine Yamal leading the charge

The Catalan side simply cannot stop scoring. Their comeback in Istanbul against Galatasaray took Barcelona's production to 43 goals in their first ten official matches of the season, a staggering total. Lamine Yamal was once again decisive: his outrageous turn and close control before setting up Anthony Gordon stood out as the most brilliant moment of the night in Turkey.

With ten successive wins across all competitions, Hansi Flick's men are the most in-form team in Europe. The main question is whether their defence will hold up in the knockout rounds, where mistakes carry a heavier price. Even so, the feeling that this Barcelona side can compete for a first Champions League crown since 2015 grows by the week. The trip to Paris to face the holders already looks like a blockbuster.

Arsenal and the unfinished business from last season

Arsenal have made a typically assured start with two wins, true to their status as last year's runners-up and still stung by the final defeat on penalties to PSG. The question is whether Mikel Arteta's team can take the next step against the continent's heavyweights when the knockout rounds arrive. Their unrivalled squad depth gives them a strong chance of finishing among the top two in the group phase.

Against Lille, the introduction of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard from the bench transformed the match. The 3-0 win showed flashes of style, but the debate over whether the Gunners lack the firepower of a PSG or a Barcelona continues.

Real Madrid, six points and a throwback to the Ancelotti era

Real Madrid have collected six points from two games without looking convincing. The pattern repeats itself: they suffer, concede clear chances and still end up winning. Against Inter at the Bernabeu, the Italians controlled the game but found themselves 2-0 down after Madrid's first two shots on target. Against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, the script played out again: the home side led 3-1, only to concede three set-piece goals and lose.

Carlo Ancelotti's team appear to be reviving old memories, the days when the Champions League rewarded efficiency and the aura of the 15-time winners. The performances are not encouraging, but the badge carries enormous weight in this competition.

The chasing pack: Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and an Aston Villa side surging into the top 10

Liverpool still sit outside the top tier of contenders, and a title challenge in Andoni Iraola's first season in charge would be a surprise. Bradley Barcola's hat-trick and an improved attacking display in the 6-3 win at LASK showed the project's potential if the coach can also get the best out of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. A relatively kind fixture list and their strong recent European record keep the Reds in the conversation.

Atletico Madrid, semifinalists last season, have extra motivation: this year's final will be played at the Metropolitano. Diego Simeone's side have clicked into form with five consecutive victories in all competitions since defeat at Anfield, and they impressed in beating Manchester United. The familiar solidity of a Simeone team now comes with added class from Alex Baena and Pablo Barrios in midfield.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa charge into the top 10. The Villans have struggled to find their rhythm in the Premier League but are thriving in Europe: the emphatic 6-0 win over Fenerbahce, their biggest ever European victory, featured bright showings from Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye. A win in their next fixture against Viking would practically seal progress to the knockout rounds before they face Barcelona and PSG.

Frequently asked questions about the early Champions League standings