Jude Bellingham was off to a record-breaking start at Real Madrid, having scored seven goals in his first eight appearances before Tuesday’s headline match away to Serie A champions Napoli.
The 20-year-old Englishman extended his hot streak in Italy, netting his eighth goal in his most stunning form yet – a slaloming move past multiple players before a cut-back and right-foot finish past goalie Alex Meret.
Bellingham’s recent goal gave the 14-time European champions a 2-1 lead; Napoli’s Leo Skiri stigrd gave the hosts an early lead before Vinicius Junior equalised. Real would have won with a third goal. Instead, a VAR check resulted in a Charmin-soft penalty for the Neapolitans. Piotr Zieliski converted, denying Bellingham what would have been a deserving game-winning goal.
However, a late Meret own goal — after a searing drive by Federico Valverde that ricocheted off the crossbar, struck the keeper, and went in — ensured Real could still take all three points back to the Spanish capital from a game that more than lived up to expectations.
Saka’s injury overshadowed Arsenal’s loss.
Arsenal had a strong start away to French side Lens. Following a thumping of PSV Eindhoven on Match Day 1, the Gunners grabbed an early lead at Stade Bollaert-Delelis via Gabriel Jesus. But then everything fell apart.
First, Adrien Thomasson equalised with a stunning curling goal. Then Arsenal’s best forward, Bukayo Saka, suffered a non-contact injury and was forced to leave the game after just 34 minutes.
With around 20 minutes left in the second half, Elye Wahi broke the stalemate for the hosts, and the game concluded 2-1. Blowing a lead and leaving with nothing is painful enough, but the possibility of being apart from Saka for an extended period of time is much harder. Following the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that the injury is significant. If this is correct, the Gunners lost twice on Tuesday.
Manchester United was startled once again at home.
Galatasaray has not scored an away goal in the Champions League in 20 outings. The Turkish powerhouse scored three goals in a 3-2 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, leaving the Red Devils with no points after two group stage games.
Worse, the visitors’ last two goals came in the closing 20 minutes of the rain-soaked game. “Not acceptable,” said United icon Peter Schmeichel, who was on the pitch covering the game for the official broadcaster. “It’s just not good enough, the mistakes that are being made.”
After losing to Bayern Munich in Germany two weeks ago, Erik ten Hag’s club bounced back with victories in the Premier League and the EPL Cup. However, Tuesday’s setback followed another shocking home defeat in the Premier League on Saturday against Crystal Palace. It wasn’t a fluke, either: Mauro Icardi missed a penalty kick for Galatasaray before scoring the winner.
The good news for Red Devils fans is that two of the club’s next three games are at home, including a Champions League match against FC Copenhagen on Oct. 24. If Ten Hag loses that game, it’s game over – if the coach is still on the sidelines in three weeks.
Bayern is given all it can handle in Copenhagen.
Bayern, as regular title contenders, were supposed to go to Denmark’s capital midweek and return with all three points. That’s exactly transpired in the end, although the hosts had the German giants work hard for their victory.
Lukas Lerager scored 10 minutes after halftime to put FC Copenhagen ahead. Bayern supporters were drenched at that time. Normalcy was quickly restored, though, with goals by Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel in the last half hour keeping Tomas Tuchel’s team unbeaten two games into the current Champions League season.
Union Berlin is defeated once again at the death.
Union believed it had gained a draw against Real Madrid in the club’s debut Champions League encounter two weeks ago, only for Bellingham to score a stoppage time winner. A point in that game would have felt like three.
Back in Berlin on Tuesday, Union needed a genuine win against Braga of Portugal. That’s why, with the score level 2-2 late, the hosts sent players forward and into the attack in pursuit of a third goal at 74,000 Olympic Stadium, which seats more than three times as many supporters as their home Stadion An der Alten Försterei. They came close, but second-half replacement Brenden Aaronson headed wide of the goal on his team’s finest chance.
After a counterattack, André Castro thumped home the game-winning goal for Braga. With just seconds remaining in the stoppage time. This defeat was even more painful for the hosts, particularly because they blew a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to Sheraldo Becker’s brace. Union will want to avoid another late heartbreaker against Napoli in its upcoming Champions League encounter.
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