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European football may have felt it was due a gentle seven days following a frantic first week of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League action, but there was plenty to set the pulse racing as clubs returned to domestic matters across the continent. uefa.com takes it pick of the stories from a non-stop week.

Team: Galatasaray AŞ
Hats off to Frank Rijkaard's Galatasaray who are enjoying their best ever start to a domestic campaign having won all six of their Süper Lig games and averaging 3.16 goals per match. While the leaders have raced out of the blocks, the story is rather different at champions and Istanbul rivals Beşiktaş JK, who have scored just three goals in their six games and have not found the net in 372 minutes.

Player: Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)
High-profile summer signings Cristiano Ronaldo (seven goals in five games) and Zlatan Ibrahimović (three in four Liga matches) may have made impressive starts for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively, but both were overshadowed by Raúl who made his 524th league outing for Los Merengues in Wednesday's 2-0 victory at Villarreal CF. The 32-year-old is now the club's all-time leading appearance holder in the Spanish top flight and one away from Manuel Sanchís's overall mark of 708 competitive games in the famous white shirt.

Match: Manchester United FC 4-3 Manchester City FC
City's big spending has reignited the Manchester derby and they certainly put the heat on United with a spirited performance at Old Trafford. The visitors, who kicked off with a perfect four wins from four Premier League games, fell behind three times only to equalise on each occasion, Craig Bellamy's second of the match late on seemingly securing them a point. However, the champions had the last word as Michael Owen scored in the sixth minute of added time to prompt unbridled celebrations from Sir Alex Ferguson – an indication perhaps that the wily manager views City as a genuine threat.

Goal: Mamadou Niang (Olympique de Marseille)
Receiving the ball just inside the Montpellier Hérault SC half, the Senegalese striker rode two challenges before darting into the box, beating another man and then rifling a shot into the bottom corner. It was Niang's fourth goal in six Ligue 1 appearances and helped the UEFA Champions League contenders to a 4-2 victory over their southern rivals.

Quote: Dick Advocaat (Belgium)
"The players have the wrong image of themselves. They have to be told that. Some players are under 23 and have potential but I got the impression some already felt they were ready to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona. That is not true. They have talent, but they are still young."
The Dutchman sets his stall out as he looks to lead Belgium to UEFA EURO 2012™ following a disappointing FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.