FC Barcelona celebrated a clear 5-2 win at Red Star Belgrade. Atletico Madrid won 2-1 at Paris Saint-Germain.
Inter remained undefeated for the ninth competitive game in a row. The golden goal resulted from a controversial penalty that Hakan Calhanoglu scored shortly before half-time (45th + 3). Arsenal‘s Mikel Merino had the ball bounced to his hand from close range. The penalty was Inter’s first shot on goal. It was another setback for Arsenal after their last three league games without a win. England’s runner-up remains in the premier class with seven points and just three goals.
In Paris, Nahuel Molina (18th) equalized the lead early on through PSG young star Warren Zaire-Emery (14th). Angel Correa secured the away win with the last attack (93′). Things are getting tight for PSG after only four points from four rounds. At least the top 8, which make it directly to the CL round of 16, seem to be a long way off at the halfway point of the league phase.
Bergamo won 2-0 in Stuttgart
Ademola Lookman (51′) and Nicolo Zaniolo (88′) scored Atalanta Bergamo to a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart. The Europa League winner, like Inter, is still unbeaten in the premier class and has not conceded a goal – and has also been undefeated in nine competitive games. With 15 goals in four games, Barcelona are the goal factory in the premier class so far. In Belgrade, Robert Lewandowski set the stage for victory with a brace (43rd, 53rd). Inigo Martinez (13th), Raphinha (55th) and Fermin Lopez (76th) were successful for the Catalans.
Aston Villa lost a clean slate
Aston Villa lost their clean slate with a 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge. Bruges captain Hans Vanaken scored the goal from a curious penalty (52nd). Villa defender Tyrone Mings picked up the ball in his own penalty area because he believed the game was still interrupted. Up until then, Villa had won three times in three CL games and had not conceded a single goal. Now it was the third competitive defeat in a row for coach Unai Emery’s team, which had started the season so strongly.
After a 1-0 win at Sturm Graz at the beginning of October, Bruges secured their second win of the season in the premier class and can dream of promotion. Storm and Salzburg’s shock Stade Brest is almost certainly over, increasing its tally to ten points with a 2-1 win at Sparta Prague and moving up to fourth place in the table. Shakhtar Donetsk also kept their chances, defeating the still pointless Swiss champions Young Boys Bern 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen and holding on to four points.
The game between Bayern Munich and Benfica Lisbon started 15 minutes late due to problems with the arrival of spectators following disruptions in the Munich subway network and was still ongoing. In the first half, one person in the Munich fan stand required emergency medical care. The supporters then stopped their chants. ÖFB team player Konrad Laimer was in Bayern’s starting line-up as a right-back.
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**Interview with Football Analyst, Alex Smith**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Alex. We just saw some thrilling UEFA Champions League action. Let’s start with Barcelona’s impressive 5-2 victory at Red Star Belgrade. What do you think made the difference for them in this match?
**Alex Smith:** Thanks for having me! Barcelona’s performance was truly dominant. The key factors were their attacking prowess and Robert Lewandowski’s clinical finishing. Scoring two goals helped set the tone, and with support from players like Inigo Martinez, Raphinha, and Fermin Lopez, they showcased the depth and talent in their squad. Their ability to convert opportunities into goals has been remarkable so far in the tournament.
**Interviewer:** Absolutely! Speaking of remarkable teams, Atalanta also maintained their unbeaten record with a 2-0 win over Stuttgart. What do you make of their campaign this season?
**Alex Smith:** Atalanta has been impressive! They’ve not only remained unbeaten in the Champions League, but they also haven’t conceded a single goal, which speaks volumes about their defensive organization. With players like Ademola Lookman and Nicolo Zaniolo stepping up to score, they’re proving to be a strong contender in this competition.
**Interviewer:** On the flip side, Arsenal seems to be struggling with a setback after a controversial penalty led to their defeat against Inter. What can you say about their current form?
**Alex Smith:** It’s been a tough stretch for Arsenal. The penalty that led to Inter’s goal is certainly debatable, but they’ll need to focus on their overall performance. As they’ve now gone three league games without a win, it’s crucial for them to reset and regain their confidence, especially with the Champions League implications in mind.
**Interviewer:** And we saw Aston Villa lose their clean slate with a defeat against Club Brugge. How do you evaluate their performance in the tournament so far?
**Alex Smith:** Aston Villa started strong, but this loss could be a wake-up call for them. It’s crucial for teams to adapt when facing unforeseen challenges – and they need to learn from this misstep. They’ve shown potential, but consistency will be key if they want to advance in the Champions League.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Alex, for your insights! It’ll be interesting to see how these teams adapt as the tournament progresses.
**Alex Smith:** My pleasure! It’s always exciting to watch how European clubs evolve throughout the Champions League. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on them!
