Goals galore in a historical Tuesday programme
Tuesday night served up an unforgettable feast of football across Europe, with powerhouses delivering dominant wins and several underdogs holding their own in style.
At the Estadi Olímpic, Barcelona produced a masterclass, sweeping aside Olympiacos 6–1 in front of an ecstatic Catalan crowd. Fermín López turned in a career-defining performance with a hat-trick, while Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford added their names to the scoresheet. The visitors managed only a single reply through Ayoub El Kaabi before losing Santiago Hezze to a red card, and by the final whistle Barcelona had underlined why they remain among the tournament’s most fluid attacking sides.
Over in London, Arsenal cruised past Atlético Madrid 4–0 at the Emirates in a performance full of precision and tempo. Gabriel opened the scoring before Martinelli doubled the lead. Viktor Gyökeres struck twice to finish the job and stretch the Gunners’ perfect start in Europe. Diego Simeone’s visitors were overwhelmed by Arsenal’s energy and high press from the very first minute.
In Germany, Paris Saint-Germain ran riot, hammering Bayer Leverkusen 7–2 to record one of the heaviest away wins of the round. PSG’s front line shared the goals generously: Pacho, Doué, Kvaratskhelia, Mendes, Dembélé and Vitinha all struck, the French champions showing devastating efficiency on the break. Leverkusen’s two replies, courtesy of Óscar García, barely interrupted the onslaught.
Borussia Dortmund also enjoyed themselves on the road, earning a 4–2 victory against Copenhagen. Lukas Nmecha scored twice, while Ramy Bensebaini and Silva completed the tally for Edin Terzić’s side. Copenhagen showed spirit and managed two well-worked goals of their own but could not live with Dortmund’s pace in transition.
At St James’ Park, Newcastle United brushed aside Benfica 3–0, with Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson finding the net to keep the Magpies firmly in the qualification mix. The noise from the Gallowgate End echoed a growing belief that Newcastle’s European run could stretch deep into the spring.
In Eindhoven, PSV overwhelmed Napoli 6–2 in a stunning attacking display. Ricardo Pepi, Johan Bakayoko and Ernest Muçi were among the scorers as the Dutch side produced waves of fluid movement and direct play that left the Italian defence chasing shadows.
Elsewhere, Inter Milan were clinical in Belgium, dispatching Union Saint-Gilloise 4–0 through goals from Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martínez, Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu from the spot. The Italians’ control from start to finish made clear why they are seen as dark-horse contenders once again.
In Spain, Manchester City secured a business-like 2–0 victory at Villarreal thanks to Erling Haaland’s power and Bernardo Silva’s finesse, ensuring Pep Guardiola’s team remained flawless in their Champions League campaign.
By the end of Tuesday night, 43 goals had already been scored, setting the tone for an exhilarating round of football.
Wednesday: Bayern, Madrid and Liverpool deliver in style
If Tuesday’s fixtures thrilled, Wednesday’s encounters matched them for drama and quality.
In Bilbao, Athletic Club defeated Qarabağ 3–1, with Gorka Guruzeta netting twice and Navarro adding the third. Qarabağ’s Andrade briefly narrowed the margin, but the Basques’ intensity at San Mamés carried them through comfortably.
Chelsea F.C. turned in their best performance of the season, dismantling Ajax 5–1 at Stamford Bridge. Estêvão and Enzo Fernández both scored penalties, while Guiu and George found the target from open play. Ajax contributed to their own demise with an own goal, rounding off a torrid evening for the Dutch side.
In Germany, Liverpool produced a statement win, crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 5–1. The Reds responded to Kristensen’s opener with a relentless attacking surge, the scorers’ list reading like a demonstration of their squad depth. It was Liverpool at their most devastating — pressing high, moving the ball with pace, and finishing clinically.
Bayern Munich made light work of Club Brugge at the Allianz Arena, running out 4–0 winners in a performance that combined intensity and ruthless finishing. Karl opened the scoring before Harry Kane added his customary presence in the box; Díaz and Jackson completed the rout as Bayern put home supporters in a celebratory mood and underlined why the Bavarians remain one of the competition’s early pacesetters.
Real Madrid edged a lively contest against Juventus at the Santiago Bernabéu, securing a narrow 1–0 victory thanks to a decisive strike from Jude Bellingham. It was the kind of tight European encounter Madrid have become accustomed to winning: they managed the game’s key moments, protected the slim lead and left Turin empty-handed but with little shame.
Real Madrid edged a lively contest against Juventus at the Santiago Bernabéu, securing a narrow 1–0 victory thanks to a decisive strike from Jude Bellingham. It was the kind of tight European encounter Madrid have become accustomed to winning: they managed the game’s key moments, protected the slim lead and left Turin empty-handed but with little shame.
In Lisbon, Sporting CP claimed a hard-fought 2–1 win over Marseille. Catamo and Alisson were the scorers for the hosts, while Igor Paixão provided a response for the visitors; despite Marseille’s attempts to forge a comeback, Sporting held firm and left the Estádio José Alvalade with a valuable victory.
