UCL: Chelsea cruise past AC Milan; Haaland nets brace as ManCity beat Copenhagen
Erling Haaland’s remarkable start to life at Manchester City continued as he helped the English side to a third win from three. Real Madrid also moved to nine points on a night when Dortmund, Chelsea, Leipzig, Salzburg and Juventus also recorded wins. The meeting between Group H’s top two ended all-square as Benfica pegged back Paris.
Here is a round up of all the action.
Group E
Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan
Chelsea cruised to their first Champions League win of the season to move off the foot of Group E. The visitors started brightly but lax marking at defensive set pieces proved their downfall as Wesley Fofana capitalised. Rade Krunić spurned a glorious chance on the stroke of half-time, but that was as good as it got for Milan as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang steered in Reece James’ cross for the second, before James smashed in the third after Milan were caught playing out from the back.
Key stat: Chelsea have lost only one of their last 22 home games in the Champions League group stage (W14 D7).
Salzburg 1-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Noah Okafor secured Salzburg’s first Group E victory with a cool penalty. The visitors started brightly and Josip Mišić brought the best out of Philipp Köhn with a long-range effort. The home side soon took charge and had their breakthrough when Sadegh Moharrami brought down Andreas Ulmer; Okafor sent Dominik Livaković the wrong way with the resultant spot kick. Köhn was pressed into action again in the closing minutes, denying Josip Drmić.
Key stat: Salzburg are six home games unbeaten in the Champions League (W4 D2).
Group F
Leipzig 3-1 Celtic
André Silva scored two second-half goals as the German side edged a compelling encounter that also saw the hosts denied once by the post and twice by VAR. Christopher Nkunku’s well-taken goal soon after the first close offside call separated the sides at half-time, but Jota soon got Celtic back on terms. With Leipzig increasingly enjoying the most of the plentiful chances at both ends, André Silva’s clinical finishes made the difference.
Key stat: Nkunku has scored eight goals in his last nine Champions League appearances
Real Madrid 2-1 Shakhtar
Brazilian wingers Rodrygo and Vinícius Jr struck in the opening half-hour as Real Madrid maintained their 100% start. Oleksandr Zubkov’s improvised volley at the end of the first half got Shakhtar right back in it, and the Pitmen enjoyed some bright moments in the second period. The holders stood firm, though, to move five points clear in Group F.
Key stat: The Merengues have found the net in 41 of their last 42 home matches in the Champions League group stage.
Group G
Man City 5-0 Copenhagen
Erling Haaland scored with his first touch as Manchester City cruised to another thumping home win. Haaland buried a João Cancelo pass before tapping in a second to move to 28 goals in just 22 Champions League appearances. Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara excelled throughout, making 12 saves, but his side were just outclassed. David Khocholava turned in an own goal, Riyad Mahrez scored a penalty after Haaland was withdrawn at the break and Julián Álvarez tapped in a fifth after a great run from Jack Grealish.
Key stat: City have never failed to score in home group match, 35 games and counting.
Sevilla 1-4 Dortmund
Dortmund consolidated second place in Group G thanks to a commanding win in Spain. Raphaël Guerreiro set the tone, before quickfire Jude Bellingham and Karim Adeyemi goals gave BVB a commanding half-time lead. Youssef En-Nesyri reduced the arrears early in the second period, but Julian Brandt added a fourth Dortmund goal to put the result – their second win of the current campaign – beyond doubt.
Key stat: Bellingham is the first English teenager to wear the captain’s armband in a Champions League fixture.
Group H
Juventus 3-1 Maccabi Haifa
Angel Di María was in sparkling form as Juventus earned their first Group H win, providing all three assists. The Argentinian’s brilliantly disguised pass teed up Adrien Rabiot for the opener on 35 minutes, and he released Dušan Vlahović to beat Joshua Cohen early in the second half. Din David pulled one back for the visitors in the closing stages but Rabiot headed in a Di María corner to quash any hopes of a comeback.
Key stat: Rabiot’s only previous goal in the Champions League group stage came in November 2015.
Benfica 1-1 Paris
Benfica held on to keep pace with Paris at the top of Group H after Danilo’s own goal cancelled out some Lionel Messi magic. The visitors were indebted to Gianluigi Donnarumma in the opening exchanges before Messi hit a sumptuous curling finish from the edge of the box. However, the Eagles kept to their game plan and levelled when Enzo Fernandez’s centre was chested past his own keeper by former Porto man Danilo. Both sides went in search of a winner after the break but found Odisseas Vlachodimos and Donnarumma in sparkling form.
Key stat: Benfica are the 40th Champions League opponent that Messi has scored against, more than any other player.
