European Talking Points: The Other Big Games Taking Place While City Thrashed United

Manchester City and Manchester United weren't the only big clubs in action with one another at the weekend, as games took place across the board that will have a resounding effect on the end of season tables. IBTimes UK looks at five of the most engrossing as the continent goes into full swing for the football season ahead.

AC Milan 1-2 Napoli

Arguably this was Rafa Benitez's first real test as manager at Napoli and one that the Italian passed with flying colours as his side were able to see off Milan. While Mario Balotelli's old side City were taking on United the striker missed the first penalty of his professional career, as Liverpool's on-loan keeper Pepe Reina made the save.

But despite his failed penalty the Italy international was to be credited with doing much of the work for his losing side and in doing so he exposed the weaknesses of strike partner Alessandro Mati. For Napoli, it was the first time they had won at San Siro since 1986 when Maradona was on the scoreboard for the side and when Migel Angel Britos scored within six minutes napoli had hope they could stage the most unlikely of wins.

Gonzalo Higuain completed the win in the 54th minute and the striker has now scored a goal in each of Napoli's last four matches and is proving to be a very good signing indeed. Take note Arsenal. Balotelli's late effort proved to be a consolation.

Schalke 04 0-4 Bayern Munich

What was believed to be a chance for Schalke to rise to the occasion and turn their backs on a turgid start to the season turned out to be more disappointment for the north-western side, and it would be Bayern who would show their muscle. Pep Guardiola showed just why he is the most revered manager in the world as his side scored two quick goals to crush Schalke's confidence and then piled another two goals with four different scorers in total.

Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer kept up his record of never having conceded against his former club while Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Mandzukic, Franck Ribery and Claudio Pizarro all notched. The win puts the Bavarians level with Dortmund on points after Jurgen Klopp's men endured a surprise draw with Nuremburg and sends Schalke to 14th place in the Bundesliga table, nine points off the leaders.

Paris Saint Germain 1-1 Monaco

Perhaps the first derby to be named so simply because of money, but that's modern football for you; the first Nouveau Riche derby took place on Sunday between PSG and Monaco. With the wealth on display one could be mistaken for thinking this was a computer game and not reality, but while it was billed as the battle of the big strikers; Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Edinson Cavani against Rademal Falcao; there was only a goal a-piece for each side and the match ended in a draw.

Of course it was Ibrahimovic and Falcao who scored in the game, and Cavani came close on multiple occasions in stoppage time to gift PSG the win. But the result means that Monaco remain top of the Ligue 1 table, two points clear of their rivals and on track to return to Champions League football in the 2014-15 season.

PSV Eindhoven 4-0 Ajax

The hotest contested fixture in the Netherlands, but it was all about PSV as the side crushed Ajax in their first meeting of the season. While Ajax might have beaten their rivals to the title in the last campaign by seven points it looks as though it could go the other way this time if PSV's form stays at such a level and the visitors continued to make crucial mistakes.

In fact PSV's first two goals were partly thanks to Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer and midfielder Niklas Moisander as Tim Matavz and Jetro Willems found the back of the net. But then it was their turn to shine as Oscar Hiljemark produced a brilliant strike and Park Ji-Sung scored the fourth.

With seven games played Ajax are now four points off PSV at the top of the table and like in the case of City and United this could prove to be an important six-pointer for them.

Top Four Face One Another In Belgium

With Belgian's top four starting to spread out it was the perfect recipe for all of the clubs to face one another over the course of the weekend. Standard Liege took on third placed Lokeren while Club Bruges and Anderlecht faced off in order to set the standard for the top clubs for the rest of the season.

And after coming sixth in the 2012/13 campaign, Liege are looking good after the side defeated their opposition 2-1. Despite Hans Vanaken cancelling out Imoh Ezekiel's goal in the 38th minute the side were able to get back in front courtesty of Michy Batshuayi just before the half time break, to go four points clear at the top.

Meanwhile, Club Bruges were able to keep pressure on the leaders with a 4-0 thrashing over Anderlecht, with Timmy Simons converting a penalty in the first half and then Maxime Lestienne scoring a brace just after the half time break. Kehinde Fatai's goal in the last minutes of the game only confirmed what was already clear - that Anderlecht are now nine points of top place and have a lot of work to do in the season ahead.