The magic of fairytales continued to unfold during the Champions League group stage on Wednesday night.
In a remarkable display of determination, Brest and Monaco maintained their impressive pursuit of the top of their respective tables, standing alongside Sporting Lisbon — who delivered a shocking defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday night — as unexpected challengers poised to advance directly to the knockout rounds with a strong run of form.
Meanwhile, Barcelona also showcased their exceptional prowess, reaffirming their status as formidable competitors, while Paris Saint-Germain find themselves grappling with a challenging situation after four matchdays, raising concerns for their future in this prestigious tournament.
Two significant and controversial penalties left fans and analysts buzzing in the games involving English teams on Wednesday night.
Should Mings’ handball have counted?
As Tyrone Mings envisioned his Champions League debut, he likely pictured securing a clean sheet, celebrating a triumphant win, and perhaps even scoring a decisive goal. However, what unfolded — gifting the opposition a penalty in an obscure manner — was far from his expectations.
When the game stood goalless, Villa’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, initiated a quick goal kick, threading the ball sideways to Mings who was positioned just outside the six-yard box, a few yards to Martinez’s left.
At that moment, Mings had not yet glanced at the goalkeeper, indicating that he might not have realized the ball was in play, while Club Bruges striker Ferran Jutgla had clearly assumed that play had resumed.
As Jutgla, positioned just outside the box as Martinez played the pass, aggressively closed in on Mings, the defender picked up the ball with his left hand. After briefly retreating a few steps, Mings placed the ball back onto the six-yard line and attempted a pass to Martinez. The Bruges players, however, vehemently protested to referee Tobias Stieler, demanding a handball decision and a penalty kick.
The German official promptly pointed to the spot, a decision swiftly endorsed by VAR official Benjamin Brand moments later. Club captain Hans Vanaken confidently converted the penalty, propelling the Belgian club to a 1-0 lead.
According to the laws of the game, there should be no dispute regarding the penalty. The handball regulations employed by UEFA state that a handball is committed if a player “deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for instance, moving their hand/arm towards the ball or touching the ball with their hand/arm in a way that makes their body unnaturally larger.”
Given that play was live when Mings grasped the ball, the decision to award a penalty may stand as one of the clearest calls for the referee. However, Villa fans might feel slighted remembering a comparable incident during Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final against Bayern, where a similar handball went unpunished.
This particular incident unfolded in the 67th minute of that match, with Bayern leading 2-1. The referee’s whistle had signaled a restart after a goal kick, prompting Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to play a short pass to teammate Gabriel.
Similar to Mings, Gabriel inadvertently picked up the ball with his hands, seemingly unaware that play had resumed.
Bayern attackers Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala immediately turned to the referee with claims for a penalty, gesturing towards their arms to indicate a handball.
Yet, unlike Stieler, referee Glenn Nyberg swiftly dismissed their appeals.
According to IFAB’s handball guidelines, one would expect a penalty should have been awarded. The ball was clearly live, and Gabriel had “deliberately touched the ball with his hand” within the box. In an ideal world, strictly adhering to football laws without a personal touch, a penalty would have been obvious, leaving little room for post-game debate.
However, as FIFA match official and rules analyst Christina Unkel noted at the time, “common sense” must occasionally prevail.
“If you are advocating this as a penalty kick, with all due respect, you are not a fan of football,” Unkel stated. “We must apply common sense and refer to the so-called Law 18. There was no advantage taken away from Bayern in this situation, and crucially, this was merely an honest mistake. The defender’s actions stemmed from not hearing the referee’s whistle in the first instance.”
Although IFAB’s Laws of The Game includes no formal Law 18, it emphasizes that “referees are expected to use common sense and apply the ‘spirit of the game’ when enforcing the Laws of the Game.” Hence, common sense has taken shape as an unwritten law — which Unkel referenced as Law 18. This instance ultimately worked in Arsenal’s favor.
Unlike Mings, who faced Jutgla’s imminent approach, Gabriel had the freedom of movement outside the 18-yard box, with no immediate pressure from Musiala or Kane, who were positioned beyond the penalty area. Gabriel possessed the time and space to seek a pass without issue. His choice not to engage before handling the ball seemed puzzling.
That match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Leandro Trossard equalizing shortly after for Arsenal. Unfortunately for Villa, they were not as fortunate and succumbed to their first defeat in this season’s Champions League following an extraordinary 100% start in their first European venture since 1983. A victory against Bruges would have seen them become the first English club to win their first four games in the Champions League.
Villa manager Unai Emery appeared to accept Stieler’s decision, commenting after the match, “It’s very, very strange this mistake. But it’s football. I don’t know whether it was intensity. It was the mistake, because in the first half, we played as planned. The match changed after our mistake.”
“It’s completely strange. This is the biggest mistake we’ve made in my career as a coach. If we make a mistake in our build-up, I can accept it. In the first half, we executed our game plan excellently.”
For Mings, who had spent 445 days rehabilitating from a severe ACL injury, his debut in club football’s most illustrious tournament is certainly one to forget.
Additional reporting: Jacob Tanswell
Why were Inter awarded a penalty?
Whereas Arsenal were deemed fortunate concerning a contentious handball decision last season, perhaps Istvan Kovacs’ choice to award Inter Milan a penalty in the first half served as football’s way of restoring balance.
Hakan Calhanoglu executed a free kick from deep in the left channel, delivering it toward striker Mehdi Taremi, who was stationed in the Arsenal box. Taremi made contact with the ball with his right foot, intending to redirect it for striker partner Lautaro Martinez, who had skillfully maneuvered behind the Arsenal defense.
However, Taremi’s flick hit the elevated arm of Mikel Merino, positioned just behind him, as he jostled for superiority to win the initial contact. Despite the midfielder, a new addition to Arsenal from Real Sociedad following his victory in Euro 2024 with Spain, standing in close range when the ball struck his arm, the referee signaled immediately for a penalty.
As of the 2021-22 season, the Premier League’s handball laws have taken proximity into account. Referees can evaluate whether players had time and opportunity to move their arms prior to the ball making contact. Conversely, in UEFA competitions, officials do not examine proximity when determining handball infractions.
“In the Champions League, that penalty is awarded,” remarked Darren Fletcher, commentator for TNT Sports, the United Kingdom’s broadcaster for the Champions League. “It’s not given in the Premier League anymore, but in this competition, it is.”
Ultimately, it proved to be the decisive factor as Inter continued their strong Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against another tournament favorite.
The Brest fairytale continues
Against all odds, Brest continues their impressive march towards the knockout stages.
In their inaugural European campaign, Brest have astonishingly amassed 10 points from their initial four matches after recently winning promotion to Ligue 1 in 2019.
They launched their Champions League adventure with a 2-1 victory against the similarly underestimated Sturm Graz, followed by an impressive 4-0 demolition of Red Bull Salzburg on October 1. In their most recent outing, they achieved arguably their finest result yet, holding German champions Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-1 draw, before concluding their Wednesday night expedition with yet another three points following a 2-1 win over Sparta Prague.
Brest took the lead in the 36th minute after midfielder Edimilson Fernandes expertly volleyed home from a corner, showing no signs of relinquishing their advantage thereafter. With just 11 minutes remaining, Brest capitalized on a defensive blunder from Prague to create a close opportunity that was inadvertently turned into an own goal by defender Kaan Kairinen, pressured heavily by Fernandes. Although Prague scored a late consolation goal via Victor Olatunji, it did nothing to alter the outcome.
Brest’s celebration following the victory (Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite being the away team at Prague’s epet ARENA, Brest exhibited dominance throughout the match, limiting the Czech champions to a mere six shots and an xG of only 0.52. In stark contrast, Brest unleashed 18 shots at Prague goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen’s goal, boasting an xG of 1.49. Given their underdog status, their results and performances are all the more astonishing.
As per The Athletic’s Champions League projections, which rely on Opta data, Brest were anticipated to gather just eight points in this season’s revamped league phase — a total they’ve already eclipsed. Their Ligue 1 form has seen a dip, currently placing them 11th in France’s 18-team top tier, yet fans would likely trade any domestic success for a spirited chase into the knockout stage of Europe’s elite club competition.
Monaco are also relishing a stellar Champions League campaign, currently sitting fourth after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bologna.
Could Barcelona be contenders?
After a notable hiatus from football’s elite ranks, Barcelona is resolutely re-establishing itself among Europe’s finest teams.
While the Catalan club remains one of the continent’s giants and most iconic institutions, its Champions League performance has been consistently underwhelming since reaching the semi-final in the 2018-19 season, a campaign that concluded with a devastating loss to Liverpool following a remarkable second-leg comeback at Anfield.
This season has revealed promising glimpses of Barcelona returning to their golden days, with performances indicating they could be serious contenders for their sixth Champions League trophy, eyeing its secure place in the Camp Nou trophy cabinet.
Inigo Martinez set the tone early, scoring within the first 13 minutes, but Barcelona faced a temporary setback as they were brought back to a 1-1 draw in the 27th minute. Undeterred, they showcased remarkable resilience, dominating the pitch against Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Robert Lewandowski, enjoying a stellar season start, restored Barcelona’s lead just before half-time and doubled the score in the 53rd minute.
Two minutes later, Raphinha extended the lead to 4-1, and Ferran Lopez capped it off with a fifth goal just 15 minutes before the final whistle. Red Star Belgrade managed a consolation goal in the 84th minute via Angola winger Milson, but by then, Barcelona had already secured their victory.
Barcelona’s goal-scoring prowess has been on display, with the team netting four or more goals in five of their last seven matches across competitions, including triumphs against illustrious rivals such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Sevilla. With a promising generation of young talents emerging, spearheaded by Kopa Trophy winner Lamine Yamal, this season could herald the dawn of a new dynastic era under the stewardship of Hansi Flick.
Is this going to be a campaign to forget for PSG?
As Brest and Monaco savor Champions League campaigns filled with promise, their French counterpart PSG finds itself in disarray, grappling with a season they would prefer to erase from memory.
PSG initially triumphed over Girona in their opening fixture. However, they subsequently faced a 2-0 setback against Arsenal in matchday two and stumbled to a disappointing 1-1 deadlock with PSV in October. Looking to revive their Champions League fortunes, PSG manager Luis Enrique sought a crucial win against Atletico Madrid.
The evening began on a cheerful note for PSG, with promising young talent Warren Zaire-Emery finding the net in the 14th minute, setting the stage for victory. Yet, just four minutes into their lead, right-back Nahuel Molina leveled the game for Atletico.
With the match finely poised and PSG appearing to gain momentum, a goal seemed imminent for the home side, pressing to secure a winner. However, against the flow of play, Atletico struck during the dying moments of the game’s second half, with Angel Correa netting a goal following a slick play by Antoine Griezmann, leaving PSG with many unanswered questions.
Eyes will be on Gianluigi Donnarumma, as Correa’s attempt managed to slip through his fingers. Nevertheless, PSG cannot afford to lay blame on individuals alone — they require a renewed collective effort if they are to climb out of the elimination zone and secure a place in the knockout stage.
Wednesday’s results
- Club Bruges 1 Aston Villa 0
- Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Young Boys 1
- Feyenoord 1 Red Bull Salzburg 3
- Red Star Belgrade 2 Barcelona 5
- Inter Milan 1 Arsenal 0
- PSG 1 Atletico Madrid 2
- Sparta Prague 1 Brest 2
- Stuttgart 0 Atalanta 2
- Bayern Munich 1 Benfica 0
What’s next?
The next set of fixtures for matchday five is scheduled for November 26.
- Slovan Bratislava vs AC Milan (5.45pm GMT/12.45pm ET)
- Sparta Prague vs Atletico Madrid (5.45pm GMT/12.45pm ET)
- Manchester City vs Feyenoord (8pm GMT/3pm ET)
- Barcelona vs Brest (8pm GMT/3pm ET)
- Bayern Munich vs PSG (8pm GMT/3pm ET)
- Inter Milan vs RB Leipzig (8pm GMT/3pm ET)
- Young Boys vs Atalanta (8pm GMT/3pm ET)
- Leverkusen vs Red Bull Salzburg (8pm GMT/3pm ET)
- Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal (8pm GMT/3pm ET)
Age for what they hoped would be a turning point in their campaign. Unfortunately for PSG fans, the optimism quickly evaporated as Atletico Madrid responded with two goals in quick succession, turning the match on its head and leaving PSG to chase the game.
Despite dominating possession and creating several clear-cut chances, PSG struggled to convert their opportunities, a theme that has plagued them throughout the season. Their failure to convert in crucial moments ultimately cost them, as the match ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat, deepening their woes in the Champions League.
The pressure has intensified on Luis Enrique as the losses mount, raising questions about the team’s cohesion and their ability to compete at the highest level. Key players such as Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi have faced criticism for their inconsistent performances, failing to display the form that fans have come to expect.
As PSG sits at the bottom of their group with just three points from four matches, hopes of advancing to the knockout stages are all but fading. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial for the club as they seek to salvage their season and regain their status as one of Europe’s elite teams.
In contrast, Brest and Monaco are capitalizing on their opportunities, showcasing the unpredictability of football. While PSG grapples with its challenges, the underdogs are shining brightly, reminding us that anything can happen in this beautiful game. The remainder of the Champions League group stage will be pivotal for all teams involved, with surprises and potential heartbreaks lurking around every corner.
