The fourth matchday of the UEFA Champions League delivered a full slate of nine matches, headlined by two major blockbusters and several dramatic finishes across Europe.
The Blockbusters and Big Wins
- Liverpool vs. Real Madrid (1–0): Liverpool claimed a huge victory at Anfield, handing the Spanish giants their first loss of the season thanks to a goal from Alexis Mac Allister. The emotional return of former Red Trent Alexander-Arnold to Anfield was a key subplot, as he was “jeered” by the home faithful.
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich (1–2): Bayern Munich maintained their “perfect start” by defeating the champions in Paris. Bayern was powered by a brace from Luis Díaz but had to hang on for the victory after Díaz was given a straight red card just before halftime.
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. FC Copenhagen (4–0): Spurs dominated with a comprehensive victory, highlighted by a stunning, long-distance “90-meter solo goal” from defender Micky van de Ven. The win was complicated by a late red card shown to goal-scorer Brennan Johnson.
- Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal (0–3): Arsenal continued their flawless European run, with Mikel Merino scoring a second-half brace. The victory solidified their status as the only team alongside Bayern to boast a maximum 12 points, and saw 15-year-old Max Dowman make history as the competition’s youngest-ever player.
- Atlético Madrid vs. Union Saint-Gilloise (3–1): Atlético secured a solid home victory with goals from Julián Álvarez, Conor Gallagher, and Marcos Llorente.
The Other Results
- Juventus vs. Sporting CP (1–1): The Italian side was held to a draw at home in Turin despite taking an early lead, settling for a point in Luciano Spalletti’s first Champions League match as coach.
- Olympiacos vs. PSV (1–1): This match saw late drama as the points were shared. After Olympiacos took the lead, PSV salvaged a vital point deep in stoppage time (90’+3) with an equalizer from US international Ricardo Pepi.
- Bodø/Glimt vs. AS Monaco (0–1): AS Monaco secured their first victory of the campaign in difficult conditions in Norway. The winning goal came from another US international, Folarin Balogun, who netted in the first half to put Monaco back in contention for qualification.
- Napoli vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (0–0): In the early kickoff, the Italian and German sides played out a rare goalless “stalemate,” with neither team able to break the deadlock despite a spirited contest.
