UCL: Liverpool Beat Real Madrid, Dortmund impress, PSV and Benfica Mount Dramatic Comebacks
Liverpool are the first team to have confirmed their place in the round of 16 or knockout phase play-offs after beating Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield, a fifth straight league phase win for the Reds.
Borussia Dortmund now have four victories to their name after a resounding 3-0 victory at GNK Dinamo, while PSV Eindhoven and Benfica also had their time in the spotlight with dramatic late comeback wins against Shakhtar Donetsk and Monaco respectively.
Here is a round up of all the action from UEFA Champions League Matchday 5.
Crvena Zvezda 5-1 Stuttgart
Crvena Zvezda claimed their first points of the league phase with a stylish victory despite falling behind early on. Ermedin Demirović put the Bundesliga outfit ahead with a crisp volley after just five minutes, before Silas – on loan at the Crveno-beli from the visitors – levelled with a precise side-footed finish soon afterwards.
The hosts edged in front shortly after the half-hour when Rade Krunić powered in from Youngwoo Seol’s cross, with substitute Mirko Ivanić’s cushioned header and fellow replacement Nemanja Radonjić’s double extending the advantage.
Sturm Graz 1-0 Girona
Mika Biereth’s maiden Champions League goal gave Sturm Graz their first points of the campaign in Klagenfurt. The visitors went closest before the break when Iván Martín shot over as part of an incisive move, although Blanquivermells goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga denied William Bøving as the Austrian side showed greater accuracy from dangerous positions.
Biereth’s winner arrived in the 59th minute, the Denmark Under-21 forward striking from close range as his side’s run of 11 consecutive defeats in the competition ended.
Monaco 2-3 Benfica
Benfica ended Monaco’s unbeaten record in the league phase in a five-goal thriller at the Stade Louis II. Eliesse Ben Seghir opened the scoring in the 13th minute, converting Aleksandr Golovin’s low cross, but Benfica equalised early in the second half through Vangelis Pavlidis.
A frantic ten minutes followed, with disallowed goals at either end and a second yellow card shown to Monaco’s Wilfried Singo, but Monaco retook the lead through substitute Soungoutou Magassa in the 67th minute.
However, two late Benfica goals then inflicted the French side’s first league phase defeat, Ángel Di María producing two exquisite deliveries for Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni to head in.
Aston Villa 0-0 Juventus
Aston Villa preserved their perfect defensive home record with a draw at Villa Park. Juve needed Michele Di Gregorio to turn Ollie Watkins’ early shot behind and were relieved when Lucas Digne’s free-kick curled against the crossbar just before half-time.
The Bianconeri almost went ahead when Emiliano Martínez clawed Francisco Conceição’s second-half header off the line. The outstanding Manuel Locatelli later made a crucial block to deny John McGinn, helping Juve stay unbeaten away.
Bologna 1-2 LOSC Lille
Ngal’ayel Mukau scored in either half to give Lille victory in Bologna. Thijs Dallinga had an early effort ruled out for offside while Alexsandro hit a post as the Ligue 1 side pressed. Mukau then put Lille ahead shortly before half-time after an initial attempt was blocked.
Jhon Lucumí equalised with Bologna’s first-ever Champions League goal, but the home team’s joy was short-lived as Mukau soon met Matias Fernandez-Pardo’s pass to seal maximum points for Lille.
Celtic 1-1 Club Brugge
Club Brugge began brightly but neither side created a chance before a mix-up at the back led to Cameron Carter-Vickers passing the ball into his own net.
The hosts started the second half on the front foot and their pressure paid off after Daizen Maeda rifled in a superb equaliser. Both sides pushed for a winner, Ferran Jutglà’s effort ruled out for the visitors as the points were shared at Celtic Park.
GNK Dinamo 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
A spectacular Jamie Gittens strike set last season’s beaten finalists on their way to claiming a fourth league phase victory. Nuri Sahin’s side controlled proceedings from the off, Ramy Bensebaini and Donyell Malen both hitting the woodwork before Gittens powered the visitors in front shortly before half-time with a crisp effort after cutting in from the left.
Algerian international Bensebaini doubled the advantage just over ten minutes after the interval, nodding in emphatically from Pascal Gross’ corner, before substitute Serhou Guirassy struck late on with a cool finish.
Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid
Both sides missed penalties in a game which ended with Liverpool maintaining their perfect league phase record – and assured of at least a knockout phase play-off place – thanks to two well-worked team goals. Alexis Mac Allister combined with Conor Bradley to put the hosts ahead early in the second half, before Caoimhin Kelleher saved Kylian Mbappé’s spot kick.
Mohamed Salah then sent his own penalty wide off a post for Liverpool, but the Reds did get a second goal through substitute Cody Gakpo, who nodded in a short corner expertly executed by Andy Robertson.
PSV Eindhoven 3-2 Shakhtar Donetsk
PSV came from two down after 87 minutes to claim an astonishing victory. First-half strikes from Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov put Shakhtar 2-0 ahead, but the away side were reduced to ten men when Pedro Henrique was dismissed midway through the second half.
Malik Tillman halved the deficit with his free-kick, before a stunning solo effort restored parity. Ricardo Pepi scored with virtually the last kick of the game, five minutes into added time, to complete the rescue act.
