UEFA Champions League 2024/2025

[Trollheart]

Although I'm late starting this, I'd like to follow it (who the hell are you talking to, TH? Nobody's reading!) so I'm going to summarise the first two rounds which have been played, and then pick it up in a couple of weeks when it resumes.

For those who somehow are not aware, Champions League football pitches the best European teams against each other, most (perhaps all, not sure) winning their entry into the tournament by virtue of their placing in their national leagues. In the Premier League, the top four teams get to play in the CL.

For the first matchday I can find no footage, no highlights programmes nor even anything I can download, so I'll have to use my imagination and the information I can get from Wiki.

Matchday One (September 17)

Young Boys v Aston Villa
(Switzerland v England)
Stadion Wankdorf (no I'm serious!)  , Bern
Result: Young Boys 0 - 3 Aston Villa
Position in League Table: 31 (Young Boys) 4 (Aston Villa)

A perfect start for my team, Aston Villa, who are enjoying a real renaissance in the Premier League, riding high in the top half of the table under former Arsenal coach Unai Emery. Returning to the CL after more than forty years, when we actually won the thing, Villa opened the scoring on 27 minutes, scoring again just before half-time and adding a third in the dying minutes, to mark their return with a first win, and a good one too.

Juventus v PSV Eindhoven
(Italy v Netherlands)
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Result: Juventus 3 - 1 PSV Eindhoven
Position in League Table: 8 (Juventus) 27 (PSV)

Looks like Juventus had this more or less their own way, scoring early in the first half twice, the goals only six minutes apart, and again near the opening of the second half. PSV only managed to get on the scoresheet at all thanks to a last-gasp extra-time goal, but it was only a consolation.

Milan v Liverpool
(Italy v England)
San Siro, Milan
Result: Milan 1 - 3 Liverpool
Position in League Table:29 (Milan) 7 (Liverpool)

Not such a walk in the park for these Italian giants though, despite a very early opening goal (in the third minute).  Liverpool bounced quickly back, scoring twice in the first half and again in the second, to make it two out of two for English clubs on the night.

Bayern Munich v Dinamo Zagreb
(Germany v Croatia)
Allianz Arena, Munich
Result: Bayern Munich 9 - 2 Dinamo Zagreb
Position in League Table: 1 (Bayern) 36 (Dinamo)

Talk about being put to the sword! I have no idea if this was the biggest win either for Bayern or in the Champions League, but you have to feel for the Croatians! Not only did Bayern score nine goals against them, they had no less than three penalties awarded, two of them within minutes of each other. To be fair to Dinamo, they also scored two goals within a minute of each other, which at the time should have given them hope, as Bayern had also only two on the scoresheet, so that would have levelled the game. But two more penalties and another five goals must have shown them  it was hopeless as the Bayern juggernaut rolled over them and hammered on out of sight, no doubt leaving some very dazed Croatians behind, wondering what had happened.

Real Madrid v VfB Stuttgart
(Spain v Germany)
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Result: Real Madrid 3 - 1 VfB Stuttgart
Position in League Table: 8 (Real) 27 (Stuttgart)

Another of the European football royalty, one of Spain's two massive clubs, Real Madrid went ahead just on half time but the German team levelled in the second half. Real however turned it on, as they always do, and went ahead again in the last minutes of the match, sealing it with a third in extra time.

Sporting CP/Sporting Lisbon v Lille
(Portugal v France)
Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
Result: Sporting CP 2 - 0 Lille
Position in League Table: 10 (Sporting) 30 (Lille)

For Sporting it seems to have been a simple task disposing of the French side, a goal in either half and they were done.

Sparta Prague v Red Bull Salzberg
(Czech Republic v Austria)
Stadion Letna, Prague
Result: Sparta Prague 3 - 0 Red Bull Salzberg

Again, a simple job for Sparta as they scored in the second minute, again near the end of the half, and added their third just after the second half began.

Bologna v Shakhtar Donetsk
(Italy v Ukraine)
Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna
Result: Bologna 0 - 0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Position in League Table: 16 (both)

Nothing to tell you here. May have been the greatest game in CL history (though I doubt it) but as a nil-all draw, no action to report. Actually, there is, as I've managed to find a semi-highlights programme which has focused on this match among others. Okay, seems Bologna have been away from European football since 2002, so this was their triumphant return. Overall then, not a bad result for them. And their keeper kept out a penalty on the fourth minute, so I guess that lucky black cat mascot they have is working for them.

Celtic v Slovan Bratislava
(Scotland v Slovakia)
Celtic Park, Glasgow
Result: Celtic 5 - 1 Slovan Bratislava
Position in League Table: 2 (Celtic) 34 (Slovan)

Lots to tell you about this one though! A superb win for the Scottish Premier League side, who scored on 17 minutes, again at 47 and then had a penalty awarded in the 58th, putting them three ahead. Slovan pulled one back in the 61st minute but Celtic were in no mood to be lenient and added another two in the last twenty minutes of the match, coming out clear winners, and no doubt a great night for the green side of Scotland.

Club Brugge v Borussia Dortmund
(Belgium v Germany)
Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
Result: Club Brugge 0 - 3 Borussia Dortmund
Position in League Table: 4 (Dortmund) 31 (Brugge)

Despite being another huge German club, it seems Borussia were held for the entire first half by Brugge and only managed to score in the 76th minute, though once they did they added another ten minutes later, finishing off the win when they were awarded an extra-time penalty.

Manchester City v Inter Milan
(England v Italy)
City of Manchester Stadium (Etihad), Manchester
Result: Manchester City 0 - 0 Inter Milan
Position in League Table: 16 (both)

A surprising result, I must say, given how Manchester City have been romping all over the Premier League, not just this season but for the past fistful of seasons. Inter, too, you would expect to do better, but maybe it was just a case of cancelling each other out? First English team not to score on matchday one anyway. Maybe they need a Pep talk. Sorry.

Paris Saint-Germain v Girona
(France v Spain)
Parc de Princes, Paris
Result: Paris Saint-Germain 1 - 0 Girona
Position in League Table: 15 (PSG) 26 (Girona)

Seems PSG were only saved from being the second French team not to score on opening day by a last-minute own goal! Girona put the ball in their own net, which must have really frustrated them as otherwise they were looking at a pretty famous draw. Is it funny that the beaten keeper is called Gazzaniga? No? Just me, then. Actually, must admit I don't understand this. The ball slipped through the keeper's hands: is that still classed as an own goal? JJ? Help me out here.

Feyenoord v Bayern Leverkusen
(Netherlands v Germany)
De Kuip, Rotterdam
Result: Feyenoord 0 - 4 Bayern Leverkusen
Position in League Table: 3 (Bayern) 35 (Feyenoord)

Is this the second time on matchday one that a German team played a Dutch one? No, No it's not. Must have imagined that. Anyway, another German giant rolled over their opponent as Bayern scored in the first five minutes, twice more in the half and were finally helped by the Dutch as the half drew to a close and Feyenoord popped the ball past their own keeper. So I guess the Germans could relax for the second half, the match already well beyond the Dutch.

Red Star Belgrade v Benfica
(Serbia v Portugal)
Red Star Stadium, Belgrade
Result: Red Star Belgrade 1 - 2 Benfica
Position in League Table: 11 (Benfica) 25 (Red Star)

I remember mention of Red Star Belgrade when Yugoslavia still existed and they played in the World Cup. Now Yugoslavia is gone, but Red Star are still here, playing as a Serbian team. Another quick start in this match as Benfica scored on 8 minutes, adding another halfway through the first period. Red Star came back with a late goal to give themselves a chance, but too little too late, I fear.

Monaco v Barcelona
(Monaco v Spain)
Stade Louis II, Monaco
Result: Monaco 2 - 1 Barcelona
Position in League Table: 22 (Barcelona) 12 (Monaco)

Yes, you read that right, and so did I! This must have been the upset of the night! Mighty Barcelona humbled by tiny Monaco! I think you could possibly equate that to, I don't know, Germany being beaten by Liechtenstein or something. Wow. Monaco shocked the Spanish giants by scoring first, early in the half, though when Barca replied soon after it must have seemed like normal service had been resumed. A tense second half surely, as both went in search of the winner, Monaco coming up trumps with what must have been seen as an unlikely goal in the 71st minute. The cheers must have been audible all the way to the Iberian coast.

Atalanta  v Arsenal
(Italy v England)
Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, Bergamo
Result: Atalanta 0 - 0 Arsenal
Position in League Table: 16 (both)

Wow. Almost as much as a shock must have been this, the second major English team to fail to score on day one. No idea if there were chances in the match, but for Arsenal not to score is unusual. I hate them, but that's neither here nor there. Ah, it seems Atalanta were awarded a penalty but the Arsenal keeper saved it, so they just avoided a first defeat in the tournament. Interesting.

Atletico Madrid v RB Leipzig
(Spain v Germany)
Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid
Result: Atletico Madrid 2 - 1 RB Leipzig
Position in League Table: 12 (Atletico) 22 (Leipzig)

But this is definitely the second time Spain faced Germany on matchday one, and here again the Spanish came out on top, coming from behind as Leipzig had scored in the fourth minute, levelling the score on 28 but then struggling to best the Germans, neck and neck till the last minute when they scored again.

Brest v Sturm Graz
(France v Austria)
Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp
Result: Best 2 - 1 Sturm Graz
Position in League Table: 12 (Brest) 22 (Graz)

Making their debut in the CL, Brest did themselves proud, winning their first match with a goal in the first half, Graz equalising only by virtue of an own goal in extra time at the end of the first half, but Brest knocking in another a few minutes later as the second half began.

The Headlines on Matchday One

Despite Bayern Munich's clinical demolition of Dinamo Zagreb, the big story has to be Monaco beating Barcelona. Just completely unexpected, and fair play to them. A big win for Celtic too, hopefully a springboard for them to go on and do well, and props too must be given to first-timers Brest for their victory over Sturm Graz. From small acorns, and all that. A good night and a bad for English teams, with two major clubs failing to score, while two others stamped their identity firmly on the competition.

League Table, Matchday One

1. Bayern Munich (3 points)
2. Celtic (3 points)
3. Bayern Leverkusen (3 points)
4. Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund (3 points)
6*. Sparta Prague (3 points)
7. Liverpool (3 points)
8. Juventus and Real Madrid (3 points)
10. Sporting (3 points)
11. Benfica (3 points)
12. Atletico Madrid , Brest and Monaco (3 points)
15. Paris Saint-Germain (3 points)
16. Arsenal, Atalanta, Bologna, Inter, Manchester City, Shakhtar (1 point)
22. Barcelona, Leipzig and Sturm Graz (0 points)
25. Red Star Belgrade (0 points)
26. Girona (0 points)
27. PSV Eindhoven and VfB Stuttgart (0 points)
29. Milan (0 points)
30. Lille (0 points)
31. Club Brugge, Salzburg and Young Boys (0 points)
34. Slovan Bratislava (0 points)
35. Feyenoord (0 points)
36. Dinamo Zagreb (0 points)

* I assume certain numbers are left out to make way for teams to drop into them once positions are no longer shared?

[Trollheart]

Goals Table

(First figure is goals scored, second is goals scored against)

Bayern Munich (9/2)
Celtic (5/1)
Bayern Leverkusen (4/0)
Aston Villa/Sparta Prague/Borussia Dortmund (3/0)
Juventus/Liverpool/Real Madrid (3/1)
Sporting (2/0)
Benfica/Monaco/Atletico Madrid/Brest (2/1)
Dinamo Zagreb (2/9)
Paris Saint-Germain (1/0)
Sturm Graz/RB Leipzig/Barcelona/Red Star Belgrade (1/2)
PSV Eindhoven/VfB Stuttgart/Milan (1/3)
Slovan Bratislava (1/5)
Feyenoord (0/4)
Club Brugge/Red Bull Salzberg/Young Boys (0/3)
Lille (0/2)
Girona (0/1)
Atalanta/Arsenal/Manchester City/Inter/Bologna/Shakhtar Donetsk (0/0)

[Trollheart]

Matchday Two, Oct 1/Oct 2

Red Bull Salzburg v Brest
(Austria v France)
Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
Result: Red Bull Salzburg 0 - 4 Brest
Position in League Table: 34/2
Previous Position: 31/12
Change: Down 3/Up 10
Current Fate: Elimination/Round of 16
Next Opponent: Dinamo Zagreb/Bayer Leverkusen

After their heroics against Sturm Graz on Matchday 1, debutantes Brest must have been thinking it's kind of all right here, innit? Now with a perfect opening record, they put Salzburg to the sword, growing into their game as they opened the scoring in the first half, then an amazing ten minutes in the second half gave them three more goals, running out comfortable winners. Brest also make history, becoming the first debutante team to score four goals in their first away appearance in the Champions League. Allez, mes amis!

VfB Stuttgart v Sparta Prague
(Germany v Czech Republic)
MHPArena, Stuttgart
Result: VfB Stuttgart 1 - 1 Sparta Prague
Position in League Table: 25/10
Previous Position: 27/6
Change: Down 2/Up 4
Current Fate: Elimination/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Juventus/Manchester City

Another draw as Stuttgart earned their first point, going ahead on 7 minutes in front of their home fans. A free then from Sparta Prague levelled the game ten minutes from the end of the first half, and so it ended 1-1.

Arsenal v Paris Saint-Germain
(England v France)
Emirates Stadium, London
Result: Arsenal 2 - 0 Paris Saint-Germain
Position in League Table: 13/19
Previous Position: 16/15
Change: Down 3/Up 4
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent:

After having failed to score in their first match, Arsenal were out for blood and they scored within the first 20 minutes, PSG nearly replying soon after but saved by the Arsenal keeper. Ten minutes from half-time they racked up another, and though they had chances to add to that tally in the second half, it ended 2-0 to the Arsenal.

Bayer Leverkusen v Milan
(Germany v Italy)
BayArena, Munich
Result: Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 0 Milan
Position in League Table: 4/32
Previous Position: 3/29
Change: Down 1/Down 3
Current Fate: Round of 16/Elimination
Next Opponent: Brest/Club Brugge

Leverkusen fought out a tough 1-0 against the Italian giants, the first half scoreless but the Germans netting in the opening minutes of the second. Milan came close but shot directly at the keeper, unable to break down the German team.

Borussia Dortmund v Celtic
(Germany v Scotland)
Westfalenstadion, Dortmund
Result: Borussia Dortmund 7 - 1 Celtic
Position in League Table: 1/20
Previous Position: 4/2
Change: Down 3/Down 18
Current Fate: Round of 16/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Real Madrid/Atalanta

Ah, reality reasserts itself for poor Celtic! Riding high, no doubt, on their five-one demolition of Slovan Bratislava, the Scots were brought heavily down to earth as Borussia Dortmund inflicted upon them the second-biggest defeat of the tournament so far. A penalty in the first ten minutes for the Germans didn't start things off well for Celtic, though two minutes later they were level, and must have taken heart. It was all one-way traffic after that though, including a second penalty for Borussia, a hat-trick for one of their players, and in the end Celtic would have to admit they had been vastly outclassed. As someone said recently, men against boys.

Barcelona v Young Boys
(Spain v Switzerland)
Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona
Result: Barcelona 5 - 0 Young Boys
Position in League Table: 16/36
Previous Position: 22/31
Change: Up 5/Down 5
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs/Elimination
Next Opponent: Bayern Munich/Inter

And speaking of men against boys... Having been thrashed by us on the opening day, Young Boys would not have been relishing facing the deadly Barcelona, and they were right to fear such a meeting, as they got another hiding. A mere seven minutes was all it took before the ball was in their net, and it would nestle there four more times before the juveniles would be able to head off the field, disconsolate at still not having either a single goal or point. The next goal was, to be fair, blocked from the initial shot but scored on the rebound, 34 minutes on the clock. And it was only three minutes later before the Young Boys keeper was picking the ball out of his net for the third - but not the last - time.

The second half began for the Swiss side as badly as the first had ended, five minutes gone before they were now four down, and then, just to add insult to injury, it was from one of his own players that the Young Boys keeper was retrieving the ball from his goal as Barcelona's fifth. Not quite six of the best, but the Young Boys had certainly received another caning.

Inter Milan v Red Star Belgrade
(Italy v Serbia)
San Siro, Milan
Result: Inter Milan 4 - 0 Red Star Belgrade
Position in League Table: 9/33
Previous Position: 16/25
Change: Down 7/Down 8
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs/Elimination
Next Opponent: Young Boys/Monaco

Surely stung by having drawn nil-nil with Manchester City in their first match, Inter set out to do better against the Serbian side and were one ahead within eleven minutes. Playing to a home crowd, they turned on the style and added a second in the 59th minute, a third twelve minutes later and with a poor penalty given away by Red Star they had their fourth. Honour reestablished for the Italians.

PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP/Lisbon
(Netherlands v Portugal)
Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
Result: PSV Eindhoven 1 - 1 Sporting CP
Position in League Table: 24/12
Previous Position: 27/10
Change: Down 3/Down 2
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Paris Saint-Germain/Sturm Graz

The Dutch side were also early scorers, netting in the 15th minute, but unable to add a second they also failed to keep out Sporting, who equalised with six minutes to go, earning themselves a point, and allowing PSV to rack up their first.

Slovan Bratislava v Manchester City
(Slovakia v England)
Tehelne Pole, Bratislava
Result: Slovan Bratislava 0 - 4 Manchester City
Position in League Table: 35/8
Previous Position: 34/16
Change: Up 1/Up 8
Current Fate: Elimination/Round of 16
Next Opponent: Girona/Sparta Prague

Another major English team looking to improve on their poor performance in their first match, the scoreline belies the chances Slovan Bratislava had, coming close to scoring first. Even so, City were ahead within 8 minutes, adding a second 7 minutes later to take control of the game. They could have had five in the first half, but had to settle for the two, and wait for the second half before Haaland scored their third, the match finished off with 15 minutes of normal time to go, and many would say, normal service has been resumed.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Atalanta
(Ukraine v Italy)
Arena Aufschalke, Gelsenkirchen
Result: Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - 3 Atalanta
Position in League Table: 27/11
Previous Position: 16
Change: Up 9/Up 5
Current Fate: Elimination/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Arsenal/Celtic

It was a good night for Italian clubs, as Atalanta took the Ukrainian side apart, scoring twice in the first half and once in the second to take the match well beyond Shakhtar.

Girona v Feyenoord
(Spain v Netherlands)
Montilivi, Girona
Result: Girona 2 - 3 Feyenoord
Position in League Table: 30/22
Previous Position: 26/35
Change: Up 4/Down 13
Current Fate: Elimination/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Slovan Bratislava/Benfica

Another hard-fought match as Girona scored their first ever goal in CL on 19 minutes, but then shot themselves in the foot by scoring at the other end, their own, four minutes later. Ten minutes after that the Dutch side had gone ahead, and so into the break it was 2-1 to Feyenoord. A cagey second half, during which Girona thought they had managed to draw the game on 73, but though they survived two penalties, they had still another barrel with which to shoot their other foot, and duly let in another own goal to give the match to Feyenoord. From heroes to zeroes, perhaps, but they have nobody to blame but themselves.

Aston Villa v Bayern Munich
(England v Germany)
Villa Park, Birmingham
Result: Aston Villa 1 - 0 Bayern Munich
Position in League Table: 6/15
Previous Position: 4/1
Change: Down 2/Down 14
Current Fate: Round of 16/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Bologna/Barcelona

A repeat of the 1982 Cup Final, when these two teams met and Villa came out on top, bringing the trophy home. Could they do it again? This seemed at best unlikely. Villa are doing really well at home and put Young Boys to the sword 3-0 on Matchday 1, but remember Bayern are top of the table, having already demolished Dinamo Zagreb with a nine-goal thrashing. If Villa were to emulate the heroics of their twentieth century forebears, they'd have to bring their A game, and maybe their A Plus game too. They were at home though, and to give added emphasis to what an epic night it could be, many of the team from 1982 were in the audience.

It looked like it would be an ex-Englishman (well, you know what I mean) who would scupper Villa's dreams early as Harry Kane headed the ball but the keeper saved it. Offside was the decision anyway, but a timely reminder of what a force Bayern are. Villa had their shots, and certainly did not seem cowed by the big occasion; on the contrary, they were well up for it and the home crowd were right behind them, willing them on each time they broke for an attack.

In fact, Villa did score in the first half (no times shown, thanks a lot MOTD!) but the goal, though a class one, was ruled offside. Martinez had to be on top form to keep Bayern out, then an inspired substitution with just ten minutes to go paid dividends, as our man of the moment, John Duran, latched on to a wonderful pass to power past the Bayern keeper, and Villa were one to the good. Despite a last-ditch effort by the Germans, including a free missed by Kane, who almost scored from the resultant corner, the Villa goal under siege, Martinez pulling off some amazing saves. Villa held on for what must surely be one of the most famous wins in Champions League history, and recalled the euphoria of '82. The scoreline was even the same. Superb.

Dinamo Zagreb v Monaco
(Croatia v Monaco)
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Result: Dinamo Zagreb 2 - 2 Monaco
Position in League Table: 14/28
Previous Position: 36/12
Change: Down 22/Down 16
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs/Elimination
Next Opponent: Red Bull Salzburg/Red Star Belgrade

Monaco, riding high after their unexpected defeat of Real Madrid, faced the Croatian side who had fallen so foul of the league leaders, enduring a 9-goal thrashing from Bayern, and surely out for revenge. They started well, scoring first, in extra time at the end of the half, and again soon after the restart, and must have thought the match was theirs. Monaco, though, had other ideas and came back late, to score in the 74th minute to give themselves hope. As the clock ticked down, a bad tackle in the box resulted in a penalty for Monaco, who levelled the game, crushing Dinamo's hopes of earning their first three points. They'll have to be happy with just the one.

Liverpool v Bologna
(England v Italy)
Anfield, Liverpool
Result: Liverpool 2 - 0 Bologna
Position in League Table: 5/26
Previous Position: 7/16
Change: Up 2/Down 10
Current Fate: Round of 16/Elimination
Next Opponent: RB Leipzig/Aston Villa

The black cat didn't help them this time, as returning Bologna fell to the onrushing red Liverpool wave, Arne Slot's boys determined to capitalise on their win over Milan. This was the Liverpool manager's first European match in charge of the team, and they did not disappoint, McAllister scoring within eleven minutes. Bologna came close but the ball hopped off the crossbar, another shot straight at the keeper, and it was beginning to look like the Italians would be the more likely to score.

However Liverpool turned it back on in the second half, keeping Bologna out, a free kick the Italian side's only real attack, easily smothered by Allison. Salah went looking for his 49th European goal, and he got it in the 75th minute, making the game safe for the English team.

Lille v Real Madrid
(France v Spain)
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve D'Asc
Result: Lille 1 - 0 Real Madrid
Position in League Table: 18/17
Previous Position: 30/8
Change: Up 12/Down 9
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Atletico Madrid/Borussia Dortmund

As they used to say back in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, the two great Catholic powers, France and Spain, met, though one is certainly seen more as the Princes of European football, and not only because of their name. Usually, whether it's Real or Barcelona, Spain are next to unbeatable, so what chance had Lille of causing an upset? The absence of Mbappe must have been encouraging for the French team, but even so Lille's keeper had to be alive, pulling off a double save against Real early.

A free for the French side led to a penalty when handball was the verdict, and to the delight of the home crowd Lille were ahead. And what a time to score, just before the half-time whistle. Lille almost added a second as the game restarted, but shot wide, the super sub on the field now and surely desperate to restore parity and save his club's blushes, but though Real laid siege to the Lille goal, the Frenchmen held on for a historic win.

RB Leipzig v Juventus
(Germany v Italy)
Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
Result: RB Leipzig 2 - 3 Juventus
Position in League Table: 29/7
Previous Position: 22/8
Change: Down 7/Up 1
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs/Round of 16
Next Opponent: VfB Stuttgart/Liverpool

Although it was the Italian side who had the first real shot on target, saved by the keeper, Leipzig shot up the other end quickly afterwards and notched up the first of five goals in this match, and the only one in the first half. It didn't take Juventus long to equalise, 50th minute but then on 65 a deliberate handball, both after a free had been awarded against them and also seconds after the substitute against whom the handball was recorded, led to a penalty for Leipzig, putting the Germans ahead again.

Even a team like Juventus though could hardly survive the loss of one man, could they? Well, they replied almost immediately, firing another goal in to once again level the match. But the Italians were not finished yet, and scored eight minutes from time to take the lead, and keep it, leaving Leipzig somewhat shell-shocked.

Sturm Graz v Club Brugge
(Austria v Belgium)
Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
Result: Sturm Graz 0 - 1 Club Brugge
Position in League Table: 31/21
Previous Position: 31
Change: None/Up 10
Current Fate: Elimination/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Sporting CP/Milan

Chasing their first point in the competition, the Austrians fell to the Belgians, with just the one goal in it, a screamer halfway through the half, leaving Club Brugge the ones to rack up their first three points.

Benfica v Atletico Madrid
(Portugal v Spain)
Estadio de Luiz, Lisbon
Result: Benfica 4 - 0 Atletico Madrid
Position in League Table: 3/23
Previous Position: 11/12
Change: Down 8/ Down 11
Current Fate: Round of 16/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Feyenoord/Lille

A good night for the Portuguese side, soundly beating one of the top Spanish teams, unlucky thirteen for Atletico as Benfica netted their first, the best the Spanish could do a long-range shot that rattled the crossbar. As the half wound down it was very nearly a second for Benfica, bounced off the upright and wide. They would have to wait for the second half before they could put the game truly to bed.

A penalty awarded in the 52nd minute sent them on their way, and their third came from a corner in the 75th, with another penalty coming nine minutes later, giving Benfica an emphatic win.

[jimmy jazz]

We're going to have a very good tournament in this. Quote me. We have the manager to win it.

If Porto (2004), Liverpool (2005), Chelsea (2012) can win it then so can we. We're better and have a better manager than all of those.

Don't rule us out. 🏆

[Trollheart]

Here then is the table after two games, Matchday 2

[Trollheart]

We're going to have a very good tournament in this. Quote me. We have the manager to win it.

If Porto (2004), Liverpool (2005), Chelsea (2012) can win it then so can we. We're better and have a better manager than all of those.

Don't rule us out. 🏆

Especially if big teams like Real, Bayern, Man City, Arsenal and Barca keep slipping up. We're one of only seven teams in the competition with a 100% win record so far. Not bad.

[Trollheart]

Headlines on Matchday 2

Without being biased, I think it's clear that the headline of the night was Villa's amazing and historic win over the league leaders, Bayern Munich, recalling the glories of '82, while Brest defeating Salzburg 4-0 on only their second match, their first away one, and making history into the bargain has to be there too. We had two massive defeats, with Barcelona flattening the already-reeling Young Boys and Borussia Dortmund tearing Celtic apart. And of course we mustn't forget Lille beating the mighty Real Madrid, while Benfica took down their Spanish counterparts.

Nations' Progress

Here I'm going to look at how certain countries do throughout the competition, who wins, who loses, who draws. May was well do it alphabetically, because why not?

That means we kick off with
Austria

Who have two teams in the league, Sturm Graz, who lost both their opening matches, first to debutantes Brest and then to Club Brugges. Sturm Graz: L2
The other Austrian team is Red Bull Salzburg, who haven't had any luck either, beaten by Sparta Prague in their first match and Brest in their second. Interesting: that means that the first-timers from France took on both Austrian teams in their first two matches, and beat them both times. Salzburg: L2

Austrian tally: L4

Belgium

Belgium have just the one team in the league, Club Brugge, and they lost their first match (against Borussia Dortmund) and won their second (against Sturm Graz).

Belgium tally: W1, L1

Croatia

Croatia are the same, just the one team, Dinamo Zagreb, who were certainly eviscerated by Bayern Munich in their first match, but drew with Monaco.

Croatian tally: D1, L1

Czech Republic

And the hopes of the Czechs rest upon Sparta Prague, who won their first match against Salzburg and drew with Stuttgart.

Czech tally: W1, D1

England

England have four teams in the competition, and again we'll do them alphabetically, so we start with Arsenal, who drew their first match against Atalanta then beat PSG.
Arsenal: W1, D1
Next up is Aston Villa, who have won both their matches, first against Young Boys and then famously against Bayern.
Aston Villa: W2
That takes us to Liverpool, who won both their first matches, both interestingly against Italian teams, beating Milan and then Bologna.
Liverpool: W2
Finally we have Manchester City, who drew their first match (against Inter) but won convincingly against Slovan Bratislava.
Manchester City: W1, D1

English tally: W6, D2

France

France is next up, and we have three French teams in the league (I don't count Monaco, as this is a separate principality) with Brest winning both their first (and debut) games, first against Sturm Graz and then against Salzburg.
Brest: W2
Next is Lille, who were beaten by Sporting in their first match but then racked up a famous victory over Real Madrid.
Lille: W1, L1
Paris Saint-Germain make the third French team, and they beat Girona but were beaten by Arsenal.
PSG: W1, L1

French tally: W4, L2

Germany

Germany is next, with possibly the most teams in the league at five. First is Bayern Munich, who won their first game convincingly against Dinamo but then were beaten by us in their second.
Bayern: W1, L1
Then we have Bayer Leverkusen, who beat Feyenoord in their first match and Milan in their second.
Leverkusen: W2
Borussia Dortmund won both their matches, beating Club Brugge in their first and Celtic in their second.
Dortmund: W2
RB Leipzig were beaten in their first game by Atletico Madrid, and again by Juventus.
RB Leipzig: L2
VfB Stuttgart were beaten by Real in their first game and drew with Sparta Prague in their second.
Stuttgart: D1, L1

German tally: W5, D1, L4

Italy

Italy also have five teams, the first of these, alphabetically speaking, being Atalanta, who drew their first match against Arsenal and beat Shakhtar Donetsk in their second.
Atalanta: W1, D1
Bologna drew against Shakhtar and were beaten by Liverpool.
Bologna: L1, D1
Inter are next, and they drew their first match against Manchester City but went on to win their next against Red Star Belgrade.
Inter: W1, D1
Juventus won both their first matches, beating PSV Eindhoven and then RB Leipzig.
Juventus: W2
And finally Milan, who were beaten both by Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen.
Milan: L2

Italian tally: W4, L3, D3

Monaco

Monaco, unsurprisingly, have just the one team, called Monaco, and they won their first match against Barcelona and then went on to draw with Dinamo Zagreb. Monaco: W1, D1

Monaco tally: W1, D1

Netherlands

Netherlands have two teams, the first being Feyenoord, who lost their first match to Bayer Leverkusen but beat Girona in their second.
Feyenoord: W1, L1
The other team they have is PSV Eindhoven, and they were beaten by Juventus in their first match but drew with Sporting in their second.
PSV: D1, L1

Dutch tally: W1, L2, D1

Portugal

Portugal have two teams also, these being Benfica and Sporting. Benfica won both their matches, beating Red Star Belgrade in their first and Atletico in their second.
Benfica: W2
Sporting beat Lille in their first match and drew with PSV in their second.
Sporting: W1, D1

Portuguese tally: W3, D1

Spain

Spain have four teams, two of which are of course monsters of football. Atletico Madrid beat Leipzig in their first match but were famously beaten by Benfica in their second.
Atletico: W1, L1
Barcelona of course have won both their first matches. Oh no wait they haven't: didn't Monaco beat them in their first match? Oh dear. But then they extracted revenge on Young Boys, beating them soundly.
Barcelona: W1, L1
Girona lost both their opening matches, first to PSG and then to Feyenoord.
Girona: L2
Real Madrid, finally, beat Stuttgart in their first match but then had that humiliating defeat to Lille in their second.
Real: W1, L1

Spanish tally: W3, L5

Switzerland

Switzerland has just the one team, and we know all about them. Young Boys have been beaten in both their games, first by Aston Villa and then by Barcelona.
Young Boys: L2

Swiss tally: L2

Scotland

Scotland is represented by Celtic, who won their first game against Slovan Bratislava but lost their second against Bayer Leverkusen.
Celtic: W1, L1

Scottish tally: W1, L1

Serbia

Serbia has just the one team, too, in Red Star Belgrade, who have been beaten by Benfica and Inter. Red Star: L2

Serbian tally: L2

Slovakia

Slovakia has also a lone representative, the unlucky Slovan Bratislava, who lost heavily to Celtic in their first match and then to Manchester City in their second. Slovan: L2

Slovakian tally: L2

Leaves us with

Ukraine

Shakhtar Donetsk drew their first match with Bologna and were beaten in their second by another Italian team, Atalanta.
Shakhtar: D1, L1

Ukrainian tally: D1, L1

That gives us the country with the most wins as England, the one with the most losses Spain and the one with the most draws Italy. The full rankings follow.

WINS
England (6)
Germany (5)
Italy/France (4)
Spain/Portugal (3)
Belgium/Czech Republic/Monaco/Netherlands (1)

LOSSES
Spain (5)
Austria/Germany/Italy (4)
Slovakia/Serbia/Switzerland/Netherlands/France (2)
Ukraine/Scotland/Croatia/Belgium (1)

DRAWS
Italy (3)
England (2)
Ukraine/Portugal/Netherlands/Monaco/Germany/Croatia/Czech Republic (1)

[jimmy jazz]

Can't wait to smash Celtic at VP.

[jimmy jazz]

😂😂😂 Top of the league, won every game, no goals conceded 😂😂😂

🟣🔵

[Trollheart]

Matchday Three

Milan v Club Brugge
(Italy v Belgium)
San Siro, Milan
Result: Milan 3 - 1 Club Brugge
Position in League Table: 25/26
Previous Position: 32/21
Change: Up 7/ Down 5
Current Fate: Elimination
Next Opponent: Real Madrid/Aston Villa

Only one of two Italian teams to record a victory on Matchday 3, Milan showed the other clubs in their home country how it's done by taking Club Brugge apart, a corner giving them their first goal, the only one of the half. And things got worse for the Belgians when they had a man sent off, but they came back on 51 to equalise, which must have given them heart.

Milan weren't finished though, Reindeer I mean Reijnders striking ten minutes later to put the Italians back in front, and another perfect shot ten minutes after that gave him his second, Milan their third, and all three points.

Monaco v Red Star Belgrade
(Monaco v Serbia)
Stade Louis II, Monaco
Result: Monaco 5 - 1 Red Star Belgrade
Position in League Table: 4/33
Previous Position: 14/33
Change: Up 10/None
Current Fate: Round of 16/Elimination
Next Opponent: Bologna/Barcelona


Belgrade were seeing stars after this one, all right, as Monaco did a Barcelona on them, shredding them like wet paper. Their first came on 20 minutes, could have been a suspicion of offside but ruled not to be. A bad tackle in the box though seven minutes later gave the Serbians a chance to get back into the match, a chance they did not waste as they slotted away the penalty.

That was as good as it got for Red Star though, as Monaco took total control of the match, ensuring they went in ahead before the break, scoring their second in extra time and coming out ready for more as the second half opened. 9 minutes in they had their third, an absolute screamer for Singo had the spectators on their feet probably, and Monaco were in testimonial mode now. A messy Belgrade defence let in Minamino for his second and Monaco's fourth, and as seven minutes of extra time (which must have seemed to the shell-shocked Red Star like seven hours) wound down, they put the seal on it as Akliouche scored their fifth. A fine display from the Monaco team, and a night for Red Star Belgrade to want to quickly forget and put behind them.

Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk
(England v Ukraine)
Emirates Stadium, London
Result: Arsenal 1 - 0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Position in League Table: 9/30
Previous Position: 13/27
Change: Up 4/Down 3
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs/Elimination
Next Opponent: Inter Milan/Young Boys

Arsenal completed a perfect four victories for English teams, even if their game against poor old Shakhtar was less than convincing. In fact the only goal went down as an own goal, though in fairness it kind of might have been going in anyway, but Martinelli's shot  bounced off the post, hit the keeper and hopped into the net. Oops! Bad luck for the Ukrainaians, but the keeper redeemed himself with a great save from the same striker a few minutes later.

Things got worse for Shakhtar in the second half as Arsenal were awarded a penalty for handball, but the footballing gods must have been smiling on Shakhtar, or maybe checking the Man City result, as Tosser sorry Trossard made a right mess of it and the Ukrainian keeper could make himself almost the hero, though Shakhtar still lost the game. Still, on balance, it was a pretty freak goal, so you can't blame him.

In fact, Shakhtar had a chance to level it, and had Arsenal any other keeper than Raya they might have done, but having had nothing to do for most of the match, the Arsenal Number One pulled off a great save that denied the Ukrainians a desperately-needed point. Again, in the dying seconds of extra time Shakhtar could have saved their honour but this time it went right into the arms of the man between the posts for Arsenal. Still, on balance you'd have to say Arsenal squeaked through this one, just about.

[Trollheart]

Aston Villa v Bologna
(England v Italy)
Villa Park, Birmingham
Result: Aston Villa 2 - 0 Bologna
Position in League Table: 1/26
Previous Position: 6/21
Change: Up 5/Down 5
Current Fate: Round of 16/Elimination
Next Opponent: Club Brugge/Monaco

Fresh off their shock victory against the German mega-side Bayern Munich, Villa were on a two-game unbeaten streak and were in no mood to break that as they faced an Italian side only getting back into the competition, as explained in the last report. Bologna have not exactly covered themselves in glory, and this being at Villa Park must have added just one more layer of delight and support for my team.

The Italians were in fact the first to have a chance in the end, though Martinez was able to save it. Villa had two chances in the first half, one of which must surely have been expected to have the Bologna net bulging, given that it was that man, John Duran, on the ball, but the Italian keeper was as acrobatic as the Villa man, and 0-0 it remained as we headed into the break.

Bailey came within a yard of scoring as the second half opened, but it was McGinn who got the first goal from a free when the ball sailed unaided in from his powerful kick on 55, and that man was in again as Rogers crossed for Duran to put Villa 2 ahead. Bologna did almost pull one back, but Villa also came close to getting a third, two proving enough to take the game and continue our perfect start. Up the Villa! 

Girona v Slovan Bratislava
(Spain v Slovakia)
Montilivi, Girona
Result: Girona 2 - 0 Slovan Bratislava
Position in League Table: 24/36
Previous Position: 30/35
Change: Up 6/Down 1
Current Fate: Elimination
Next Opponent: PSV Eindhoven/Dinamo Zagreb

Girona are the only Spanish team in the competition to lose both their opening matches, and they set about sorting that out tonight as they faced Slovan Bratislava, who are in the same position, but massively deficient in goal difference, having been on the end of the only victory for Celtic so far, a real 5-1 hammering. Girona had their first just near the end of the half, their second coming from a fine free kick in the second, Girona with their first victory, and their first points, and looking to take their place amongst their big Spanish brothers. Another defeat though for Slovan Bratislava, who have not a point to their name.


Juventus v VfB Stuttgart
(Italy v Germany)
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Result: Juventus 0 - 1 VfB Stuttgart
Position in League Table: 14/18
Previous Position: 7/25
Change: Down 7/Up 7
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Lille/Atalanta

A pretty poor night for Italian football as another side slipped to a defeat, the mighty Juventus falling to, it would have to be said, the not quite as mighty Stuttgart, no offence to their fans. Mind you, the game was even almost all the way through until, with six minutes to go, a red card for Juventus resulted in a penalty for Stuttgart. Rather unbelievably, that was not the goal that won it for the Germans, as the Juventus keeper saved! But it was only a brief respite, as Toure struck in the second minute of extra time to break the deadlock and take it for Stuttgart, stunning Juventus, who must have thought they'd dodged a bullet, only to find it ricochet and come back to take them in the head. So to speak.

Paris Saint-Germain v PSV Eindhoven
(France v Netherlands)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Result: Paris Saint-Germain 1 - 1 PSV Eindhoven
Position in League Table: 19/28
Previous Position: 19/24
Change: None/Down 4
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs/Elimination
Next Opponent: Atletico Madrid/Girona

The only French team not to win tonight, PSG had to settle for a point as they faced the Dutch side. Hey: PSG played PSV! Some crisp passing in the first half led to Eindhoven's goal, just after the half hour, while the French had to wait till the second half to equalise, a super shot by Haikimi arrowing into the top corner to preserve some pride for the French side. Honours even.

[Trollheart]

Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
(Spain v Germany)
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Result: Real Madrid 5 - 2 Borussia Dortmund
Position in League Table: 12/11
Previous Position: 17/1
Change:  Up 5/Down 10
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: AC Milan/Sturm Graz

Real, furious no doubt at being beaten by a poxy little French team, faced Dortmund, fresh from a 7-1 thrashing of Celtic, and the Spanish side were out for blood. It was the German side who struck first though, Malen giving them the lead on 38, and the German side were two up four minutes later when Gittens stole in to tap it past the Real keeper and put Dortmund in a commanding position.

Or so they thought. That was as good as it got for the Germans, as Real began to play, a double bounce off the crossbar dumbfounding Mbappe, and most in the ground, while the Spanish keeper had to stretch and fling himself to the side to keep Dortmund from scoring a third. As they say, the classic game of two halves. 2-0 at the break, Rudiger latching onto a sublime pass from Mbappe to score Real's first and halve the deficit on the hour. Almost duplicating Dortmund's two goals, Real's second came within two minutes, as Vinicius Junior slammed the ball into the net to equalise. VAR was called into play, suspicion of offside, but the goal stood and the teams were level.

The Germans had a chance to reestablish their lead but the Real keeper stopped the shot, and then Vazquez made certain by taking the lead on 83 with a powerful shot, and again the next goal was minutes behind, three in fact as Vinicius Jr scored again to put the match now well beyond Dortmund. His individual goal was incredible: a run from his own goal all the way down the wing to score himself, and just to be sure he got his hat-trick in extra time, the match well and truly turned around.

Sturm Graz v Sporting CP
(Austria v Portugal)
Worthersee Stadium, Klagenfurt
Result: Sturm Graz 0 - 2 Sporting CP
Position in League Table: 32/8
Previous Position: 31/12
Change: Down 1/Up 4
Current Fate: Elimination/Round of 16
Next Opponent: Manchester City/Borussia Dortmund

Sturm Graz have not had a good time of it so far, losing all their matches, while Sporting have done a lot better. It was the Portuguese side who struck first, a fine sweeping attack looking to have missed the chance but then Santos hit the ball into the net and Sporting were ahead on 23. They had to wait till the second half to register their second, defender left for dead as Gyokeres stormed (sorry) through the Graz players and slotted the ball away to leave the result in no doubt. Another loss for Sturm Graz. Verdammt! Or something.

Atalanta v Celtic
(Italy v Scotland)
Stadio Atleti Azzurri D'italia, Bergamo
Result: Atalanta 0 - 0 Bergamo
Position in League Table: 17/20
Previous Position: 11/20
Change: Down 6/No change
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: VfB Stuttgart/RB Leipzig

Poor Celtic! After a storming start to Matchday 1, they were battered by the Germans and now faced an Italian side who really need to improve on their own performance and weren't about to do the Scottish team any favours. They in fact had the first chance, twice bouncing off the crossbar, the Italians looking very much the better team. A third shot went right into Schmichael's arms and left the Celtic keeper sitting on the ground, but thankfully not picking the ball out of his net.

Fighting a rearguard action, Celtic could just not get out of their own half as their goal was peppered with attacks in the first half, and in the second they did their best to turn it around, a long shot from outside the box sailing over the Atalanta goal, the Italians again coming close. You'd probably award Schmichael the Man of the Match award; if it hadn't been for many great saves by the Dane, Atlanta would have had three or four at least by now.

Another attack by Celtic went nowhere, as did the next, and in the dying moments of the game they gave away a free kick in a dangerous spot, but the Italians were unable to convert it, and the game ended scoreless.

Brest v Bayer Leverkusen
(France v Germany)
Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp
Result: Brest 1 - 1 Bayer Leverkusen
Position in League Table: 5/6
Previous Position: 2/4
Change: Down 3/Down 2
Current Fate: Round of 16
Next Opponent: Sparta Prague/Liverpool

Proving themselves very much the belles of the ball, so to speak, debutantes Brest have impressed, beating both Austrian teams in their opening fixtures, as well as creating their own little piece of history by scoring four goals in their debut appearance, something no other team has managed. This would be their toughest test yet though, as they faced the monolithic Bayer Leverkusen. It was the Germans who struck first, just inside the quarter-hour mark, a lovely breakaway run from Florian Wirtz and a perfect shot  into the back of the net, Brest conceding their first goal in the competition.

Wirtz almost added a second, dancing through the defence but shooting at the keeper. The French side were level quickly though, Pierre Lees-Melou equalising six minutes from the end of the first half. A possible handball for Leverkusen was waved away by VAR in the second half, and Brest went close to taking the lead soon after, two great shots, then as we played out seven extra minutes another penalty shout for Bayer Leverkusen, but nothing doing, and a draw was the result.

[Trollheart]

Atletico Madrid v Lille
(Spain v France)
Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid
Result: Atletico Madrid 1 - 3 Lille
Position in League Table: 27/15
Previous Position: 23/18
Change: Down 4/Up 3
Current Fate:
Next Opponent: Paris Saint-Germain/Juventus

The other French side (well, other than PSG, but you know what I mean) faced off against Madrid's third team, and the Spanish went ahead in the eighth minute, ex-Man City star Alvarez capitalising on a Lille mistake to lob it into the net. Atletico came close to doubling their lead in the first half, but in the second a great shot from Zhegrova had the French side level on 61, their lead extended when they got a penalty 14 minutes later and Lille sealed the victory right at the death after Madrid had squandered the chance to pull one back. A great night for French football: Lille have now beaten two of the biggest Spanish sides in this competition. Like they say, every Lille helps. Sorry.

Young Boys v Inter Milan
(Switzerland v Italy)
Wankdorf Stadium  , Bern
Result: Young Boys 0 - 1 Inter Milan
Position in League Table: 36/7
Previous Position: 35/9
Change: Up 1/Up 2
Current Fate: Elimination/Round of 16
Next Opponent: Shakhtar Donetsk/Arsenal

Young Boys must be wishing the damn thing was over already. Heavy defeats to Villa and Barca have left them without a point, and they fared no better here against Inter, though at least it wasn't another thrashing, as this time they even had a penalty, but the Italian keeper made a brave double-save (not too sure he even knew much about the second shot, which more or less bounced off him) and Young Boys must have thought the gods were truly against them. Particularly as, having failed to take an unlikely lead, they nevertheless managed to hold the Italian side almost right to the end of the game, and must, in fairness, have thought they had earned their first 0-0 draw and a point before Inter broke their hearts with a Thuram goal in stoppage time. Ah, lads! Yiz just can't get a break, can ye?

Barcelona v Bayern Munich
(Spain v Germany)
Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Madrid
Result: Barcelona 4 - 1 Bayern Munich
Position in League Table: 10/23
Previous Position: 16/15
Change: Up 6/Down 8
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Red Star Belgrade/Benfica

This was of course the big one, the one we'd all been waiting for. A match of titans: Spain's biggest club versus the best Germany can offer, and one thing was sure - this was not going to be a cagey nil-nil affair! Barcelona, fresh from their demolition of what can only be called what's left of Young Boys (I bet they feel like old men now!) faced Bayern, smarting from their unexpected defeat at our hands. One for the ages, this, and it did not disappoint.

Barca were ahead in the first minute, a great breakaway run by Raphinha, who just left the Bayern defence in his wake and slotted in what would be the first of a hat-trick for him, and four for his team. Kane came to the German giant's rescue, scoring a peach of a header, but unfortunately for him it was offside, and so the score remained 1-0.  18 minutes in though and he netted again, and this time it stood, Bayern now level.

Some hysterics in the Bayern goal as Noyer almost let one in as it bounced off his shin, but it veered harmlessly away, then the keeper was off his line to stop an attack which switched as the ball was passed to old campaigner Lewandowski, who showed he still has what it takes as he pounced for Barcelona's second of the night with ten minutes to go to the end of the half. A long shot out to the wing on the left had Raphinha in for his second just on half-time, cementing Barca's clear lead now at 3-1.

Bayern almost got one back in the second half, bit of pinball in the box, but in the end it was Barcelona's night as Raphinha notched up his hat-trick, to make the German side look very ordinary indeed. Even four substitutes coming on at once couldn't impact upon the scoreline, though they came close to getting another but Coman shot wide. Kane was kept mostly quiet during the second half, and in fact Barca almost had a fifth when Lewandowski was through again, but 4-1 it ended, Barcelona rampant and anxious to restamp their mark on the tourament.

[Trollheart]

Red Bull Salzburg v Dinamo Zagreb
(Austria v Croatia)
Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
Result: Red Bull Salzburg 0 - 2 Dinamo Zagreb
Position in League Table: 34/22
Previous Position: 34/28
Change: None/Up 6
Current Fate: Elimination/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Feyenoord/Slovan Bratislava

The other Austrian team have been having as much of a bad time of it as their "stormy" countrymen, and tonight did nothing to improve their fortunes as they came up against a Croatian team intent on reducing that horrendous goal difference after Bayern put nine past them on the opening night. That's going to haunt them, but gaining three points from this match helped, and at the start of the second half they notched their first of the match, almost adding a second when the Salzburg keeper came out and Kulenovic lobbed him, the ball just bouncing wide. Handball by the keeper was the verdict, normally not an offence but once he steps outside of his area he cannot handle the ball, so a red card for the keeper and he was off.

Petkovic made certain of the win six minutes from time, and once again neither Austrian team in the competition has a single point they can call their own. Dinamo begin the task of laying the ghost of Bayern Munich to rest.

Manchester City v Sparta Prague
(England v Czech Republic)
City of Manchester Stadium (Etihad), Manchester
Result: Manchester City 5 - 0 Sparta Prague
Position in League Table: 3/21
Previous Position: 8/10
Change: Up 5/Down 11
Current Fate: Round of 16/Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Sporting CP/Brest

After a slightly disappointing start, Man City went on to hammer Slovan Bratislava in their second match, and did even better here, notching up, I think, the highest score by an English team in the tournament so far. With a 25-match unbeaten record in the Champions League, they only needed to win this one to break the record held by their now "noisy neighbour", who must have been hoping and praying they'd lose. They set their marker down almost immediately, Foden opening the scoring within 3 minutes with a lovely shot from just outside the box, Haaland almost adding a second with a leaping header, but the keeper equal to it.

It was all City though, as a rare Sparta Prague breakaway shot wide, then in the second half Haaland got his goal on 58 minutes, not a thing of beauty but they all count. Acrobatic, certainly. A corner then led to City's third as Stones, fresh from that controversial last-second winner at Wolves on Sunday got on the end of another one, putting the Blues well in command. Were they going to settle for 3-0? Does the Pope eat Weetabix in the woods? You'd have to ask His Holiness, but the answer to the first question is no: on 68 Haaland had his second and City's fourth, and they weren't finished yet.

A foul on Nunes led to City being awarded a penalty, and perhaps surprisingly, given that Haaland was on yet another hat-trick it was Nunes himself who took the spot-kick, scoring and ending a truly miserable night for the Czech side. Rousing cheers from one half of Manchester, growls of discontent from the other: City have the new record.

RB Leipzig v Liverpool
(Germany v England)
Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
Result: RB Leipzig 0 - 1 Liverpool
Position in League Table: 1/31
Previous Position: 5/28
Change: Up 4/Down 3
Current Fate: Round of 16/Elimination
Next Opponent: Bayer Leverkusen/Celtic

Liverpool couldn't quite match the goalfest provided by the team that's currently snapping at their heels, but a victory is a victory, and though their legendary ex-manager is now working for Red Bull (how's that for a twist?) I doubt Liverpool care.  Leipzig had most of the early chances, just not able to finish where it counts. In fact, Kelleher coming out and heading the ball away from the Leipzig player was taking a chance, as it was punted over him and just kissed the post on its way past.

In the end, it was a case of Salah just missing out on the only goal when Nunez nicked it off him, but Liverpool were ahead. Gakpo almost added a second later but the keeper made an amazing save to keep the Liverpool forward out. And he did it again when Van Dijk tried his luck. A penalty might have been awarded to Liverpool but the ref said no, and VAR either agreed or said nothing.

Into the second half and Liverpool really turned on the pressure, 1-0 too thin a lead as they tried to add to it, Gakpo again in the thick of it, as was McAllister. You couldn't say it was for the want of trying, but Liverpool just couldn't score again, and even came close to dropping two points as Leipzig almost scored, but side netting. The Germans sensed weakness, and they were doing all they could to exploit it.

Finally they scored, but it was chalked off for offside, to spare Liverpool's blushes. McAllister had another go but again the Leipzig keeper was equal to it. You'd have to say, even as a Liverpool fan, the English team survived rather than won the game.

Benfica v Feyenoord
(Portugal v Netherlands)
Estadio da Luz, Lisbon
Result: Benfica 1 - 3 Feyenoord
Position in League Table: 13/16
Previous Position: 3/22
Change: Down 10/Up 6
Current Fate: Knockout Round Play-offs
Next Opponent: Bayern Munich/Red Bull Salzberg

Playing in front of their own fans, and after that fine victory against Atletico, Benfica failed to hold the other Dutch team in the competition as they slipped to their first defeat. 12 minutes in and Feyenoord were ahead, and on 33 they added their second. Benfica pulled one back in the second half but Feyenoord made certain in the last minutes, scoring in extra time to beat the Portuguese side.

[Trollheart]

Headlines on Matchday 3

Three teams smashed five past the opposition, two you might have expected as both Man City and Real Madrid reasserted their dominance, but Monaco's thrashing of Red Star Belgrade was something special, the small but mighty team showing once again that teams underestimate them at their peril. Two other English teams struggled, Arsenal squeezing out a lucky 1-0 against floundering Shakhtar Donetsk, while Liverpool made it past Leipzig, but only just.

Villa put in another fine performance, taking wobbly Bologna for 2-0, and Lille took another Spanish scalp as they beat Atletico 3-1. On the other side of the scale, Young Boy continue to reel as this time Inter put them to the sword, though at least the Swiss team only had the one goal to contend with, and neither Austrian team could manage a goal and remain pointless.

Debutantes Brest continue to impress, holding the titanic Bayer Leverkusen to a one-all draw, and it was overall a bad night for German and Italian football, as only one of the former and two of the latter managed to avoid defeat. I have no idea whether or not this has happened before, but the top three in the table are all English clubs, with the closest German sixth and the closest Spanish tenth. Some red cards, a scatter of penalties, missed chances and glorious goals as well as some howlers: just a normal night in Europe in the Champions League!