We’re back for the second round of fixtures in this year’s Champions League as domestic leagues start to take shape across the continent.
For some teams this competition is a chance to build on fantastic league form and carry their momentum forwards, for others it’s an opportunity to arrest a slide and take a step back from their league duties and reset. Everyone’s had a bit of time to bed in new signings and new ideas, so we should start to be able to work out who really has the chops to go far in the tournament.
Plenty of huge clashes this week as rivalries are renewed, familiar faces return to their old stomping grounds and some Champions League new blood face tough tests against seasoned veterans. And there were loads of goals. Here’s how the games panned out.
The Results:
Tuesday 30th September
Atalanta 2-1 Club Brugge
In-form Greek winger Christos Tzolis has put his disappointing spell at Norwich firmly behind him as he scored a wonderful opener for the travelling Belgian side, another Champions League goal on top of his demolition of Rangers in the qualifiers. The hosts pulled through with two goals fairly late on to seal a crucial three points after they were turned over by holders PSG last time out. Mario Pasalic’s header was the difference between the two sides on a night where Atalanta dominated the chances but lacked the ruthless finishing touch they’ll need to go deep in the competition.
Kairat Almaty 0-5 Real Madrid
Kairat Almaty didn’t win the away leg in any of their three qualifying rounds for this tournament, they also never lost a home leg. After a tough run out in Lisbon they were looking forward to welcoming some sides making the long trip to Kazakhstan with the dream of picking up a few points, unfortunately the first team to turn up were Real Madrid. Kylian Mbappe is up to five goals in the competition, and thirteen this season, already after an impressive hat-trick today. The away side were expected to win, but to make the tricky away trip look so trivial was very impressive. That Mbappe up front looks like one for the future.
Atletico Madrid 5-1 Frankfurt
If you find yourself at a loose end and there’s a Frankfurt game on, I’d watch it. 47 goals for either side in their 8 games so far this season, the Frankfurt TV subscribers won’t be complaining about value for money at least. Conceding 13 in their last 3 will be of serious concern though, and the good goal difference built up in their big win over Galatasaray last time out is now null and void. Julian Alvarez continued his imperious form with another goal and two assists as Atleti put on the perfect after-show to their 5-2 victory over Real at the weekend.
Bodø/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham
The Norwegians will be absolutely kicking themselves here. After a hard-fought point against Slavia Prague, they came into this re-run of last year’s Europa League semi full of confidence. 2-0 up and cruising, and having missed a penalty, Bodø succumbed to the Spurs late pressure and had to settle for a point. An inspiring performance by the home side that will buoy them for their upcoming ties and reassure them that they do belong at Europe’s top table. Spurs have cause for concern, however, as their league form also begins to falter, they’ll have to snap out of this slump quickly to ensure they qualify strong out of the league phase.
Chelsea 1-0 Benfica
Jose Mourinho spent the pre-match processions grinning from ear-to-ear and reminiscing on his golden years as he returned to Stamford Bridge. Don’t get things twisted, he hasn’t softened with age. A battling affair with little quality settled by an own goal was about right, Benfica and Jose will be disappointed they didn’t take more away from a Chelsea side that have struggled as of late and are missing some key players.
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Another team that have shown flashes of weakness in recent weeks are Arne Slot’s Liverpool. They arrived in Türkiye hoping for another three points on their path to European domination, but Galatasaray had something else in mind. An early penalty was converted by star man Victor Osimhen to give the home side the lead before they dug in and soaked up waves of Liverpool pressure. The visitors couldn’t breach the defence of Gala, and had a late penalty call overturned by VAR, so they left with nothing but injuries to key players Alisson and Ekitike. Arne Slot will be hoping they aren’t too serious and their title defence isn’t hampered by a tough night in Türkiye.
Inter 3-0 Slavia Prague
Last season’s finalists have picked up where they left off with another domineering display to make it two wins from two so far. Two goals by clinical front-man Lautaro Martinez sandwiched Denzel Dumfries’ customary Champions League goal to give the Italian side a well-earned and comfortable victory. You can always tell it’s a World Cup year when Lautaro Martinez and Mbappe seem to ramp up the dial to 11. Slavia have a mountain to climb already after a draw at home to Bodø and now a big defeat here, if they’re to have any chance of getting through they’ll need a couple of shock results.
Marseille 4-0 Ajax
An impressive win for Marseille to continue their good league form, but as long as they continue to employ Mason Greenwood everything that club does means nothing. For Ajax it’s another defeat without scoring in this competition, their young side will have to find their feet fast if they’re to qualify for the later rounds with tricky ties against Chelsea and Galatasaray to come next.
Pafos FC 1-5 Bayern Munich
Harry Kane has 17 goals in 9 games this season. It’s coming home. I know it’s only Pafos, but following on from their victory over Chelsea, Bayern look like serious contenders. They turned up and turned over a side they should comfortably beat that could’ve easily turned into a tricky away day. Welcome to the Champions League, Pafos. Take your medicine, lick your wounds and move on. They showed some promise, and former Southampton man Mirslav Orsic scored a fantastic goal, a crucial tie against fellow newcomers Kairat Almaty awaits them in the next round.
Wednesday 1st October
Qarabag 2-0 FC København
You know the old saying, you wait around for an Azerbaijani side to score the first ever point for their nation in the Champions League and then six come at once. What a win for Qarabag to make it two from two this season, and in emphatic style as they dominated their Danish guests from minute one. It’ll be a big ask but Qarabag have a few winnable games, namely Athletic Club and Ajax, and it would be amazing to see them reach the knockouts. They’re the team I’m supporting from now on. København will be gutted, after a great point against Leverkusen when they probably deserved all three last time out you simply have to be beating teams like Qarabag if you want to see knockout football. They can still turn it around as they play Kairat Almaty, Villareal and Spurs, but it’s already starting to look like an insurmountable task.
Union St. Gilloise 0-4 Newcastle
Howay. Eddie Howe’s Geordie boys have failed to hit the heights of last campaign up until this point, still grieving the loss of Alexander Isak to Liverpool, but they certainly turned it around in Belgium. Pope was called into action on occasion, but mostly to parry long-range efforts as the hosts struggled to deal with Newcastle’s steadfast defence. A deflected goal and a couple of penalties isn’t the prettiest way to win a game, but they all count, and Newcastle were excellent value for their win. USG have seen their goal-difference evaporate after their win over PSV and will hope they can bounce back for a sticky run in of Inter, Atletico and Galatasaray in their next three.
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Another routine win and professional display from The Arsenal as well as getting vital minutes into the legs of Saka as he returned from injury with a goal off the bench. Arteta’s side are getting very good at beating good teams they have the edge over without overthinking things, positive signs ahead. The Greek side drew at home to Pafos in the last round and have Barcelona and Real Madrid to come, so their qualification chances are slim, maybe Marinakis can loan a few of his Forest players over there to get them over the line.
Barcelona 1-2 PSG
This game epitomises what’s best about the new format. Two of the favourites, and probably the two best sides from last year’s tournament, battling it out in a pulsating game in the league phase. PSG will be delighted with the result, particularly as they are still operating without Marquinhos, Desiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé. Teenage forward Senny Mayulu has really stepped up to the plate in their absence, PSG have another star on their hands.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 PSV
Not the result either side wanted, but the one they’re going to have to settle with. This was an opportunity for a reaction for both of these teams against struggling opposition after disappointing outings last time out. Neither team were up to the task of overcoming their failings and winning the game, so a draw it’ll have to be. Both teams will have to get a grip of themselves quickly to save themselves from embarrassment as ties against top teams await them next time out.
Dortmund 4-1 Atheltic Club
Athletic Club made a long-awaited return to European Football’s top table this season, and with two losses from two it’s looking like they won’t be sat there very long. They haven’t won in any competition since the 31st of August and have the Qarabag super team to contend with next time out. They have some tricky games coming up but it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see them get a point or two against Newcastle, Atalanta and Sporting, good results here combined with wins against Qarabag and Sparta could see them still reach the play-off places. For Dortmund it’s 8 goals in 2 games and an emphatic win this time out, combine this with their unbeaten start in the Bundesliga and things are looking bright for Niko Kovac’s side. Of course, they’ll somehow have to beat Bayern if they’re to win anything domestically.
AS Monaco 2-2 Manchester City
What is happening at Manchester City? Their usual robotic ruthlessness and efficiency has been replaced by a wishy-washy inconsistency and inability to see out games against good teams. Erling Haaland is still playing like a man possessed and more than capable of dragging them though, but someone else is going to have to contribute if they’re to seriously compete on any fronts this year. They should’ve turned over this Monaco side but only marginally edged them in chance and shot creation despite having 71% of the ball – far from good enough by Pep’s high standards. For Monaco, an excellent point at home against a tough side ahead of a run of four matches in this competition they could feasibly win, it might be time for a return to the knockouts for the Ligue 1 club. Always nice to see Eric Dier pop up with a goal too.
Napoli 2-1 Sporting
What is in the water at Manchester United? Last year, Scott McTominay left to join Napoli and set the world alight, becoming a cult hero in Naples and winning Serie A MVP. This week, Rasmus Højlund scored a brace in the Champions League to win the game for Napoli, both assisted by Kevin De Bruyne. The Dane took both his goals excellently, particularly his first which was great centre-forward play, to take his tally to 3 in 5 for his new club. Both Sporting and Napoli now sit on 3 points apiece and will be looking to push into the top 8 positions as they each have favourable draws coming up, particularly the Italian side.
Villareal 2-2 Juventus
Villareal’s high-flying La Liga form is yet to translate continentally as they snatched a late draw at home to Italian giants Juventus. Former Juve loanee Renato Veiga scored a last-minute header to condemn his old side to a fourth consecutive draw. Villareal face Man City in the next round and Juventus have Real Madrid, so it’ll be difficult for either of them to turn their European form around immediately. Both will be aiming for the play-off spots but so is everyone else, and someone has to fall short.
Game of The Round:
Barcelona 1-2 PSG
The repeat of last year’s semi-final did not disappoint, a pulsating affair that could have gone either way fell the way of the holders.
PSG lined up once again without their recently-crowned Ballon D’Or champion Ousmane Dembélé, who was absent through injury. Last year’s man of the match in the final Désiré Doué also missed out as well as captain Marquinhos and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Barcelona had their fair share of missing players too, Gavi and Raphinha the headliners alongside first-choice ‘keeper Joan Garcia.
If this is both of these sides putting out makeshift elevens I dread to think how they’ll look at full tilt, both put on an excellent display worthy of winning any game.
They each profited from rare defensive lapses in concentration, the Barcelona goal coming off the back of a misplaced pass from Vitinha, which was punished by some quick passing play and finished by Ferran Torres. The equaliser came from a missed interception, allowing youngster Senny Mayulu to receive the ball and finish well while under pressure from Pau Cubarsi.
Barcelona’s defensive line was simply too high as they pushed for a winner later on, PSG caught them on the break with Hakimi in miles of space out wide on the right. If there’s any full-back in the world you don’t want to give that room to at the moment, it’s probably him. He whipped a low cross into the path of substitute Gonçalo Ramos ,who had beaten the offside trap, and he tapped home the winner beyond the reach of Szczesny.
The Parisians take the spoils in the end, but expect both sides to progress fairly comfortably from the league phase. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a repeat of this fixture in the final come May.
Player of The Round:
Mbappe and Kane put on dazzling displays, but the big boys pulling the minnows’ pants down is more expected than exceptional.
Højlund scored twice for Napoli, but it is actually the man that provided both goals that is my player of the round. Belgian magician Kevin De Bruyne.
As a fan of a team outside the Premier League, and thus never having to suffer at the hands of Kevin De Bruyne, he has been one of my favourite players to watch for years. Fans may be tempted to think the 34 year old is past it and winding down, but that’s certainly not been the case so far.
Both assists are vintage KDB. For the first he wiggled out of danger on the edge of his own box with a 1-2 before driving forward with the ball. He beat two players and made it into the Sporting half before slipping Højlund through on goal to score. The second was a delightfully worked corner routine that ended with him whipping an inch-perfect cross onto the strikers head for 2-1 and to win the game.
Bellissimo from De Bruyne, and anyone that can make Rasmus Højlund score twice is deserving of the player of the round.
Table:
Early days! But a fantastic start for Qarabag mixing it up there with the big boys on 6 points from a possible 6. A lot of teams are in and around where you’d expect them to be, now comes the real test of their consistency to see if they can stay out front and cement their claim on those top eight spots.
For some, a turnaround is needed. Benfica and Ajax are Champions League regulars and to have no points from two games is unacceptable, particularly with the manner of their performance. Can they dig themselves out of this hole to claw back a place in the knockouts?
Bodø/Glimt sit just inside the play-off spots and could come to rue missed chances against Spurs as they should’ve come away with all three points. Liverpool and Barcelona came into the tournament as some of the favourites and will be hoping their defeats this time out are an anomaly rather than a trend.
The Champions League returns in three weeks’ time and the players have an international break to attend to in the interim. Will the break do some teams good and they’ll come back refreshed and revitalised to make a push for the top eight? Or will it halt their momentum and see them sink into the elimination places?
Gameweek 3 coming up next, and the table should really start to take shape. It’s already make or break for some teams.
White Noise 