The Champions League delivered a thrilling set of results, with Liverpool's resurgence stealing the spotlight. After a dismal streak of four straight losses, including a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in their previous European outing, Liverpool's trip to Germany was a make-or-break moment.
But they rose to the challenge, overturning a deficit to crush Eintracht 5-1, mirroring the scoreline of their opponents' opening Champions League fixture. Rasmus Kristensen's opener was canceled out by Ekitike, who scored against his former club after a £79 million move. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate then headed in two more before halftime, with Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai adding to the tally in the second half.
Van Dijk, reflecting on the victory, said, "It's a win to build on." And build they must, as they sit 10th in the 36-team league phase standings.
But here's where it gets controversial: Chelsea's win over Ajax was marred by an early red card and three first-half penalties. Kenneth Taylor's dismissal for Ajax opened the floodgates for Chelsea, with Marc Guiu and Moises Caicedo finding the net. Wout Weghorst's penalty gave Ajax a glimmer of hope, but Enzo Fernandez and Estevao's spot-kicks sealed the deal for Chelsea before the break.
The game also marked a historic moment as Tyrique George's second-half goal meant three teenagers scored for the same team in a Champions League match for the first time. Chelsea's manager Maresca attributed this to the club's strategy of trusting young players, both from their academy and new signings.
Ajax's woes continue as they sit bottom of the table, winless after three games, alongside Benfica. Bayern Munich, on the other hand, are flying high with a perfect nine points, thanks to Harry Kane's 20th goal in 12 club appearances this season in a 4-0 win over Club Brugge. Youngster Lennart Karl opened the scoring, with Luis Diaz and Nicolas Jackson also getting on the scoresheet.
Real Madrid also secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against Juventus, with Jude Bellingham scoring his first goal of the season just before the hour mark. Thibaut Courtois, the Madrid goalkeeper, acknowledged the importance of the win, calling it a 'sweat' against a formidable opponent.
In other results, Tottenham Hotspur drew 0-0 with Monaco, becoming the only English team not to win this midweek. Sporting Lisbon defeated Marseille 2-1, with the game turning on a red card decision. Nigeria's Victor Osimhen scored twice for Galatasaray in their win over Bodo/Glimt, while Athletic Bilbao came from behind to beat Qarabag 3-1. Atalanta and Slavia Prague played out a goalless draw.
The next round promises more excitement, with Paris Saint-Germain facing Bayern Munich and Liverpool taking on Real Madrid. Will Liverpool continue their revival? Can Ajax turn their fortunes around? Share your predictions in the comments!
