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UEFA Champions League: Liverpool beat Real Madrid at home; Aston Villa hold Juventus

By News Update

New Delhi: An electrifying week of Champions League action saw Liverpool break their long-standing hoodoo against Real Madrid, Celtic pushing closer to the knockout stages with a passionate display at Celtic Park, and Borussia Dortmund solidifying their top-eight ambitions with a commanding win over Dinamo Zagreb. Each of these games showcased high drama, tactical brilliance, and key moments that have significantly shaped the group standings as the tournament’s new 36-team league format heads into the crucial final rounds.

From Liverpool’s commanding performance at Anfield to Celtic’s determination against Club Brugge and Dortmund’s clinical display in Croatia, Europe’s elite teams are battling fiercely for their spots in the knockout stages. Here’s a closer look at how each game unfolded:

Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid

Liverpool finally overcame their Real Madrid curse with a well-deserved 2-0 victory at Anfield, maintaining their flawless Champions League record this season. Under head coach Arne Slot, who has seamlessly succeeded Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool dominated the defending champions, ending an eight-game winless streak against the Spanish giants, including two painful losses in recent finals. Alexis Mac Allister’s precise low strike in the 52nd minute set the tone for Liverpool, sending the Kop into raptures. Cody Gakpo then sealed the victory with a clinical header from Andy Robertson’s cross, leaving the Reds top of the standings with five wins from five.

Despite high expectations following the addition of Kylian Mbappé to their squad, Real Madrid struggled, suffering their third defeat in five games. Carlo Ancelotti’s side were left to rue missed opportunities, notably when Mbappé’s penalty was saved by Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Mohamed Salah also missed a penalty, but it did little to dampen Liverpool’s relentless performance. With Real now battling for a play-off spot, Liverpool’s rise under Slot appears unstoppable as they aim for both domestic and European glory.

Celtic 1-0 Club Brugge

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is urging his players to harness the “power of Celtic Park” in their upcoming match against Club Brugge, with a spot in the knockout stage within reach. With seven points from four matches, Celtic have been a formidable force at home, boasting three consecutive Champions League wins. Having already defeated Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig, Rodgers is confident his team can build on their 3-1 comeback win over Leipzig, a match showcasing their physicality, pressing, and composed defending.

Club Brugge, just one point behind Celtic, warmed up for the fixture with a resounding 7-0 domestic victory over Sint-Truidense, with Christos Tzolis scoring four goals. However, their inconsistent European form, including a 3-0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund, presents challenges. Rodgers acknowledges the high stakes, warning his side about Brugge’s dynamic frontline. Reflecting on their heavy 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund earlier in the tournament, Rodgers stressed that “failure is part of the journey,” emphasizing their resilience and determination. Celtic’s home advantage and recent form give them a solid platform to push for a place in the knockout stages.

Dinamo Zagreb 0-3 Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb reinforced their position in the top eight of the Champions League standings, inching closer to automatic qualification for the knockout stage. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens opened the scoring in the 41st minute with a well-taken finish, followed by a powerful header from Ramy Bensebaini in the 56th minute. Serhou Guirassy, returning from illness, sealed the victory with a late goal, continuing his impressive streak of goal involvements in his last six Champions League matches.

Dortmund’s control was evident throughout the match, as they hit the woodwork twice and dominated possession. Zagreb, on the other hand, extended their dismal record against German teams, losing their last eight encounters and conceding 28 goals. While Zagreb struggles, Dortmund’s form has been impressive, with seven wins in their last nine matches. Their dominant display in Croatia leaves them well-positioned for a strong finish in the group stage, as they focus on securing a top-eight spot and automatic qualification to the knockout rounds.

Aston Villa 0-0 Juventus

Aston Villa’s winless run extended to seven matches in the Champions League after a dramatic 0-0 draw against Juventus at Villa Park. In a game dominated by Villa, the home side thought they had finally broken their curse when Morgan Rogers tapped in a stoppage-time goal, only for VAR to rule it out due to a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio. The decision left Unai Emery’s side frustrated, as their inability to capitalize on chances kept them without a win since their 2-0 victory over Bologna five weeks ago.

Villa’s Colombian forward Jhon Duran, who had been impactful in previous home games, couldn’t find the net this time, despite coming on as a late substitute. Juventus, with the best defensive record in Serie A, remained resolute, with Emiliano Martinez producing a vital save to deny Francisco Conceicao from close range. While Villa showed improvement after a recent Premier League draw, the lack of goals continues to be a concern for Emery, who now faces mounting pressure to reverse his team’s fortunes in Europe.

Bologna 1-2 LOSC Lille

Lille secured a crucial 2-1 away victory over Bologna, thanks to a double from Gal’ayel Mukau. The 22-year-old forward opened the scoring just before halftime, slotting home a rebound after his initial effort was blocked. Bologna responded in the 63rd minute through Jhon Lucumi’s strike, marking their first Champions League goal of the season. However, their celebrations were short-lived as Mukau netted again three minutes later, securing all three points for the French side.

Bologna’s third consecutive defeat leaves them bottom of the group with just one point, while Lille climbed to 10 points, solidifying their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages. Lille have now won six of their last nine Champions League matches outside of the knockout rounds, showing resilience after their opening loss to Sporting CP. Bologna, meanwhile, risk elimination and must turn their form around quickly to avoid further humiliation in Europe.

Monaco 2-3 Benfica

Benfica pulled off a dramatic 3-2 victory over Monaco, overturning a late deficit to snatch all three points at Stade Louis II. Monaco opened the scoring through Eliesse Ben Seghir after Vanderson’s deflected shot fell kindly for him. However, Benfica equalized when Vangelis Pavlidis capitalized on a defensive error. The hosts regained the lead with Soungoutou Magassa’s strike, despite being reduced to 10 men following Wilfried Singo’s red card.

Angel Di Maria then orchestrated a stunning comeback for Benfica, providing two crucial assists in the dying moments. Arthur Cabral headed home in the 88th minute before Zeki Amdouni scored the winner three minutes later, leaving Monaco stunned. The result lifted Benfica to 14th in the standings, while Monaco dropped to eighth, missing a crucial opportunity to solidify their position in the top eight.

PSV’s 3-2 Shakhtar Donetsk

PSV Eindhoven made Champions League history with a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. Trailing 2-0 until the 86th minute, PSV roared back into the game with a brace from Malik Tillman and a last-gasp winner from Ricardo Pepi. Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr had given Shakhtar a comfortable lead, but the match turned when Pedrinho received a red card in the 69th minute.

Tillman’s quick double in the 87th and 90th minutes leveled the score, and Pepi’s scrappy 95th-minute winner sent the Philips Stadion into raptures. PSV became the first team in Champions League history to overturn a two-goal deficit so late in a match. The Dutch champions also extended their unbeaten home run to 47 matches, a streak that dates back to November 2022.

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