- Manchester City, Real Madrid on trail
On a Wednesday night to savour by Real Madrid’s French striker, Karim Benzema, and Portugal’s Sporting CP, English Premiership side, Liverpool and Netherland’s star side, Ajax Amsterdam, both made club history in the UEFA Champions League.
The two teams have done excellently well to join Bayern Munich and Juventus in the competition’s knockout stage with two matches left to play in the group stages.
On their part, English Champions, Manchester City, and Spanish giants, Real Madrid took big steps closer to joining the last 16 train.
However, the story on the night was different for Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Bundesliga club, Borussia Dortmund, as they were stung late on by their respective opponents.
Below are all the actions as captured by UEFA.com rounds up of Match Day 4 fixtures.
Group A
Highlights: Manchester City 4-1 Club Brugge
Josep Guardiola’s side recovered from a shaky first-half showing to record a comfortable home win. Phil Foden’s early tap-in was cancelled out when John Stones deflected a clearance into the net off his face, even as Club Brugge threatened more than once.
After the break, it was all City, with Riyad Mahrez and substitute Raheem Sterling providing finishes from close range before Gabriel Jesus slid in the fourth with the last kick.
Key stat: Six of Mahrez’s 14 Champions League goals have come against Club Brugge. The next round of matches coming up on November 24 will have Club Brugge facing Leipzig and Manchester City going against PSG
Highlights: Leipzig 2-2 PSG
Paris Saint-Germain relinquished the top spot in Group A to Manchester City as Dominik Szoboszlai’s last-gasp penalty earned Leipzig a deserved point.
The hosts’ ferocious start stunned Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s men and, after Christopher Nkunku had pounced to head the opener, they went close to a 2-0 lead, only for André Silva’s spot-kick to be beaten away by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s double turned the game on its head, but the hosts kept coming and finally levelled after Presnel Kimpembe fouled Nkunku in added time.
Key stat: Nkunku has scored five goals in his last four Champions League games. Despite his contribution, Leipzig are six games without a win in Europe, conceding two or more goals in each fixture.
Group B
Highlights: AC Milan 1-1 FC Porto
The Rossoneri’s last-16 ambitions hang by a thread after the hosts fell short of the victory they badly needed. Even a first Group B point looked a distant prospect for much of the opening half as Luis Díaz gave Porto an early lead and only Ciprian Tătăruşanu prevented further damage.
Milan were better after the break, though Evanilson did hit the bar, and Chancel Mbemba’s own goal earned a draw.
Key stat: Porto have lost just one of their last 9 Champions League group matches. For the next round of matches coming up on November 24, Atlético Madrid will confront AC Milan while Liverpool have nothing to worry about facing FC Porto
Highlights: Liverpool 2-0 Atlético Madrid
Liverpool are group winners with two matches to spare courtesy of a dominant victory over Atlético Madrid, who now sit a point behind second-placed Portuguese side, Porto.
After Diogo Jota nodded in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exceptional cross on 13 minutes, the rampaging right-back provided another assist for Sadio Mané to fire in eight minutes later. Felipe’s dismissal before half-time meant it was a damage limitation for the visitors thereafter.
Key stat: Liverpool have won their opening four matches in a Champions League group stage campaign for the first time.
Group C
Highlights: Sporting CP 4-0 Beşiktaş
The Portuguese champions continued their Group C revival with another emphatic win against their Turkish opponents, who are still without a point. Paulinho passed up two fine Sporting chances in the first ten minutes before Cyle Larin drilled just wide at the other end, the cue for the home side to seize control.
Pedro Gonçalves drilled in the first from the spot after being felled, and then twisted and turned to curl in a fine second. Paulinho atoned for his earlier misses with a well-taken third and Pablo Sarabia slammed in a rebound early in the second period.
Key stat: Sporting’s win was their biggest in the Champions League while the 4-1 victory at Beşiktaş on Match Day 3 was their largest away success in the competition. In the next round of matches on November 24, Beşiktaş will take on Ajax Amsterdam with Sporting CP battling Borussia Dortmund for a place in the last 16 pairings.
Highlights: Dortmund 1-3 Ajax
Three goals in the final 18 minutes secured Ajax’s place in the last 16 as they came back from a goal down. The home side had Mats Hummels sent off but were ahead at half-time through Marco Reus’ penalty.
However, Antony was instrumental in turning the match around as he assisted for Dusan Tadić, Sébastien Haller, notching his seventh Champions League goal in four games – and Davy Klaassen.
Key stat: Ajax have won their first four games in the Champions League for the first time, eclipsing the three victories they posted at the start of 1995/96.
Group D
Highlights: Sheriff 1-3 Inter Milan
The Nerazzurri had to wait until the second half to break down a resolute Sheriff outfit and leapfrog them into the second spot.
Marcelo Brozović opened the scoring with an effort that skipped off the surface and beyond Giorgos Athanasiadis, who was also powerless to prevent Milan Škriniar from doubling the visitors’ advantage. Alexis Sánchez scored with his third touch after coming off the bench before Sheriff earned a stoppage-time consolation through Adama Traore.
Key stat: Alexis Sánchez’s goal was his first in the Champions League since scoring for Arsenal in a 5-1 defeat by Bayern in February 2017. The next round of matches on November 24 will feature Inter vs Shakhtar and Sheriff vs Real Madrid
Highlights: Real Madrid 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
An inspired performance from Karim Benzema saw off a spirited Shakhtar side. The Real Madrid skipper opened the scoring with just under 15 minutes gone, tapping in from close range after good work by Vinícius Júnior.
The visitors levelled before the break via Fernando’s fierce strike, but Benzema restored Los Blancos’ lead after the hour, a crisp finish capping a fantastic team move.
Key stats: Benzema’s opener was Real Madrid’s 1,000th European Cup goal. The Spanish club are the first team to reach this milestone.
