Written by: Holofelang Mogane
Matchday 03 has delivered a total of 71 goals in 48 hours of immaculate UEFA Champions League football. Some results are expected, whilst others tell a different story, and we will highlight the key moments from this past match day (or match night) across the continent of Europe.
Top 5 teams in Europe maintain their 100% start to the Champions League campaign
The defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), remain unbeaten after 3 games, following an emphatic 7-2 victory over former Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen, at the BayArena in Leverkusen. Despite finishing the match with only 10 players, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, Vitinha, and Man of the Match winner, Nuno Mendes, all ended up on the scoresheet. But the highlight would be the return of the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé. He played his 1st match since winning the most prestigious award in football, as he was out due to injury. But he did not miss a beat, as he ended up on the scoresheet to complete a remarkable goal-scoring rout for the defending Champions League holders. But it was a day to forget for Kasper Hjulmand’s charges, as they were brought to 10 men as Robert Andrich was sent off during the 1st half, followed by Alex Grimaldo’s missed penalty…it was a day to forget for the former Meisterchale champions.
The champions have a mouthwatering clash in the UEFA Champions League, as they will host a red-hot Bayern Munich in Paris, whilst Bayer Leverkusen will travel to SL Benfica in matchday 04.
But PSG were not the only team that had a remarkable goal-scoring day in the office. Italian giants, Inter Milan (Internazionale Milano), thrashed Belgian side, Union Saint-Gilloise, 4-0, at the Lotto Park in Brussels. Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s penalty, and Francesco Esposito all found the back of the net for the Nerazzuri. They are one of the few sides that are not only unbeaten, but they also have not conceded a goal in the UCL so far this season. Inter Milan will travel to Naples to face the defending champions, Napoli, before their next encounter against Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A. Their next UCL encounter will be against the newbies, Kairat Almaty, in the city of fashion.
Another side that has not conceded a goal and is also unbeaten in the Champions League, is Arsenal. They hosted fellow UCL finalists, Atletico Madrid, at the Emirates Stadium. The major talking point revolves around their Swedish striker, Viktor Gyökeres. The 2025 Gerd Müller trophy winner misplaced his goal-scoring boots for some time, but he found them on two occasions, as he secured his brace, before defender Gabriel Magalhães and fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli all found the back of the net for the Gunners. But there was a near-comical error at the back during the match, as goalkeeper David Raya found himself in a compromising position that nearly cost him and his side their 3rd clean sheet in the Champions League. Nonetheless, the Gunners did not concede a goal, and are also unbeaten with 9points after three games.
Arsenal will face Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion in their respective Premier League and Carabao Cup encounters, before they travel to Slavia Prague, whereas Atletico Madrid will face Real Betis and Sevilla in the Spanish LaLiga before they host Union Saint-Gilloise in the UCL.
What about the most successful UEFA Champions League team in the competition’s history?
Former 15x UEFA Champions League winners, Real Madrid, made it three wins from three games after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Juventus, at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in the Spanish capital of Madrid. Xabi Alonso’s men had to work throughout the match to find the opening goal, which eventually came inside the 57min. Englishman Jude Bellingham scored his 1st goal of the new season to put Los Blancos into the lead. Despite many other efforts which were denied by Juve goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio, Madrid held on for the victory and ensured they maintain their 100% start under new manager, Xabi Alonso. Real Madrid’s next encounter is a mouthwatering clash against the defending LaLiga champions, FC Barcelona, this Sunday, whilst Juventus have an enticing encounter of their own against Lazio in the eternal city of Rome.
Bayern Munich remain unbeaten after their opening three games after easing past Belgian giants, Club Brugge, with an emphatic 4-0 victory at the Allianz Arena. Harry Kane continues his remarkable goal-scoring run as he netted his 5th Champions League goal this season, taking his tally to 17 goals across all competitions. Nicholas Jackson, Luis Diaz, and 17-year old Lennart Karl ended up on the scoresheet. Karl became the youngest player to start a UEFA Champions League match in the competition’s history. Munich will next prepare for their away trip to Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga and a cup match against FC Koln, before they travel to the defending UCL winners, PSG, in Paris in matchday 04.
Arsenal, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and PSG, are the only teams remaining with a 100% start to their Champions League campaign.
Resurgence and history
Former 6x UEFA Champions League winners, Liverpool, bounced back to winning ways following a 5-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Deutsche Bank Park on Wednesday. Former Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike hit the double whammy, as he not only scored against his former employers, but he also cancelled Rasmus Kristensen’s opener in the 1st half. Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, together with Ibrahima Konaté, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Cody Gakpo all bagged a goal each as Arne Slot’s men snapped a 4-match losing streak in all competitions. Could this be a start of a resurgence, as they have a tough Premier League encounter against Brentford this Saturday, before a Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace, all before they prepare to host former 15x UCL winners Real Madrid at Anfield.
Chelsea collect their 2nd victory in their three Champions League match this terms, following a dominant 5-1 thrashing against Ajax Amsterdam at Stamford Bridge. For the 1st time in forever, a team that is NOT Chelsea played their match with only 10 players, as Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor was sent off for a dangerous lunge towards Facundo Buonanotte in the 1st half. Wholesale changes by manager Enzo Maresca paid off, as Marc Guiu, Moises Caicedo, Willian Estêvão, Tyrique George, and Enzo Fernández, all ended up on the scoresheet. The kids of Chelsea have sent a loud statement, as the Blues became the 1st team to have their three teenagers score in the same match. It seems the bloated squad is working in their favour, and on top of that, they finished a 90min match with a full complement of players on the pitch. Chelsea will prepare for Sunderland at home this weekend, before they have Carabao Cup duty, before they face FK Qarabag away in the UCL.
Newcastle made history of their own, as they defeat a troubled SL Benfica side 3-0 at the St. James Park on Wednesday. Anthony Gordon scored 4 goals in three opening games for the Magpies, but Harvey Barnes went away with a brace, as they win successive UCL matches for the 1st time since February 2003. Whereas Benfica’s troubling start in the Champions League is not getting better under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho.
Elsewhere, Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen strikes twice to give the Turkish Super League champions a comfortable 3-1 victory over Bodo/Glimt. They next travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax in matchday 04.
Tottenham and AS Monaco were forced to share the spoils, but Monaco were made to rue their missed opportunities, as they are positioned at 27th on the UCL log, whilst Tottenham sit on 17th with 5points.
Borussia Dortmund put their Der Klassiker defeat against Bayern Munich behind them as they defeat FC Copenhagen 4-2 at the Parken Stadium in the national capital of Copenhagen. Felix Nmecha scored a brace, followed by Fabio Silva, and Ramy Bensebaini’s penalty to condemn the Danish giants to their 2nd defeat in 3 games, and are yet to secure their 1st victory of their Champions League campaign.
Sporting Lisbon (Sporting Club de Portugal) came from a goal down to defeat Roberto de Zerbi’s Olympique Marseille 2-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. Marseille were looking to continue with their winning streak across all competitions, including a 6-2 drubbing against Le Havre in Ligue 1, and wanted to collect their 2nd victory in their UEFA Champions League campaign. They opened the scoring thanks to Igor Paixao, but things changed for the worst as former West Ham United player Emerson Palmeri received his marching orders after picking up a 2nd yellow card of the game.
Geny Catamo and Alisson Santos rallied the Portuguese giants to a remarkable victory, but condemning Marseille to their 2nd defeat in the UCL this season
Now we can go on and on with the results and highlights, and this will be as long as your bucket list for the year. But this season proves to be a remarkable season for all UCL contenders, as we have been treated to immaculate goals that win games, and break hearts at the same time.
Here are the key matches you can look out for in Matchday 04 of the UEFA Champions League:-
Juventus VS Sporting Lisbon, @ Allianz Stadium, Turin
Slavia Prague VS Arsenal, @ Eden Arena, Prague
PSG VS Bayern Munich, @ Parc des Prince, Paris
Liverpool VS Real Madrid, @ Anfield, Liverpool.
FK Qarabag VS Chelsea, @ Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku
Benfica VS Bayer Leverkusen, @ Estadio da Luz, Lisbon
Club Brugge VS FC Barcelona, @ Jan Breydel Stadion, Brugge
Manchester City VS Borussia Dortmund, @ Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Olympique Marseille VS Atalanta, @ Orange Velodrome, Marseille
Newcastle United VS athletic Bilbao, @ St. James Park, Newcastle.
That is matchday 04 that you can look forward to in Europe’s elite competition.
