First up is football from the UEFA Champions League, and the highly anticipated visit by the EPL's Manchester City to Spanish La Liga side Barcelona on Wednesday. City's new manager Pep Guardiola would make his return to the Nou Camp, where he had coached Barca to 14 out of a possible 19 titles during four seasons. The Spaniard has taken his new club to the top of the standings in England, but the Catalans were expected to provide a much stiffer test for the revamped Citizens.

Lionel Messi wheels away in celebration after netting for Barcelona against Manchester City in the first half.

And Guardiola is warmly welcomed by his former national teammate, and now Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique. But the warm feelings don't linger very long.

Lionel Messi threads a pass to Andres Iniesta and Fernandinho trips over just as he looks set to clear, leaving the Argentine an early Christmas present that he happily accepts in the 17th minute. A costly slip from Fernandinho, and Messi smoothly dekes out Claudio Bravo to make it 1-0 Barca.

But City are still in it until after the break, when Bravo plays a terrible ball straight to Luis Suarez, who attempts to chip it over the stranded keeper. Bravo gets a hand, and perhaps his head on the shot, but as he's well out of his box. That's a red card.

Now one man down, City are no match for Barca's attacking juggernaut, and it's going to be Messi hammering in his second goal from the edge of the area in the 61st minute.

And the magical Messi would not stop there. Eight minutes later, the Argentine is the recipient of a lovely lay-off from Suarez to complete his hat-trick, and it's now 3-0 for the Catalans as the visitors look helpless.

But Barcelona create some problems for themselves when substitute Jeremy Mathieu is dismissed for two bookable offences.

Neymar would then get a chance from the penalty spot, but sees his shot saved by substitute keeper Willy Caballero.

There's only one way to make up for that, and Brazilian does it in the 89th minute, dancing around in the box before making it 4-0, and heaping more pain on Barca's most decorated coach Guardiola.

4-nil is the final, and Barca now lead Group C with nine points, followed by Guardiola's City on four.

"Against Real Madrid with Bayern Munich because there in that moment I didn't make the correct decisions. Of course when you see the game's result 4-0 you think: wow. But we are a new club, knowing each other. We are in that process. A club that during thirty-five years was not in Europe. When we were left with ten the game was over. Until that moment the game was open,"  Manchester City manger Pe Guardiola said.

BAYERN MUNICH 4 - PSV EINDHOVEN 1 

Meanwhile in Group D, Bayern Munich hosted Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Carlo Ancelotti's men were looking to bounce back after three games without a win in all competitions.

And the hosts make their intentions clear early on, with Thomas Mueller slotting home on the rebound in the 13th minute. It's a quick corner from Arjen Robben, and the Eindhoven keeper was fast enough to block Mueller's first attempt, but can do nothing about the second.

Joshua Kimmich makes it -20 Bayern in the 21st with a close-range header to take his goal tally to three in three Champions League games this season.

PSV try to turn the tide in the 41st minute, when Luciano Narsingh pulls a goal back for the visitors. Manuel Neuer gets a piece of it but can't keep it out.

Then Robert Lewandowski nods in on the hour to settle the home team's nerves.

Robben would make sure of the three points, converting an 84th-minute header from an outstanding Thiago Alcantara cross. 4-1 is the final, and Bayern stretch their Champions League record to 14 successive home wins.

In other games on Wednesday, Arsenal thrashed Ludogorets 6-0 and top Group A with 7 points, while PSG beat Basel 3-0 to take second in that pool. In Group B, Napoli were stunned by Turkish side Besiktas 3-2. But the Italian side still hang on to top spot in the pool. Dynamo Kiev were beaten 2-0 at home by Benfica. In Group C Monchengladbach defeated Celtic on the road while in Group D, Atletico Madrid edged Rostov 1-0 to remain on top of the heap.