Three round of matches are already in the book in this seasons’ Champions League. Matchday three delivered in the shape of some headline performances.
Champions League – Five Talking Points
Matchday Three Full of Talking Points
There were the teams who had started their campaign strongly. Such as Manchester United, who won convincingly at home against Red Bull Leipzig 5-0 to secure six points from six. In addition, Barcelona, who are struggling for form in La Liga, won impressively at Juventus by two goals to nil.
And then there were the teams yet to find their form so far. Spanish Champions Real Madrid being prime examples of this with scrapping a comeback 2-2 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach.
We are halfway through this year’s group stage with three fixtures done and dusted. So let’s check out the five takeaways from matchday three of the Champions League:
Diogo Jota’s Purple Patch
The Portuguese winger has taken to Liverpool like a duck to the Merseyside water. Liverpool won convincingly against a talented Atalanta side 5-0. But it was Jota who grabbed the headlines. He bagged his fourth and fifth goals and six goals in four games as he scored a memorable hat trick. For his first, he scored with a clever dink over the opposition goalkeeper. His second of the night was through bringing the ball down with aplomb and firing a crisp right-footed strike. For the hat-trick goal, he successfully outwitted and rounded the keeper to stroke the ball into the empty net.
In addition, Jota has a taste for this competition – scoring in the Reds’ previous game vs FC Midtjylland. And it was a milestone goal considering this was Liverpool’s 10,000 goal in their history.
Real Madrid Edge Inter Milan in the Champions League Clash of the Heavyweights
Real Madrid secured a much needed three points by overcoming Inter Milan in a five-goal-thriller 3-2. Goals by Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, who scored his 100th goal for the club, and Rodrygo were enough to hold off Antonio Conte’s men. So Madrid are back in contention to progress from Group B with four points. Meanwhile, Inter have just two points and have it all to do to get through to the next round.
Turkish Delight for Istanbul Basaksehir
The Turkish outfit secured a famous victory over Manchester United. The Red Devils, after two consecutive wins in the competition, slipped to a surprise defeat. Ex Newcastle United, West Ham United and Chelsea man Demba Ba opened the scoring as the side from the capital earned their first win in Group H. Dean Henderson made his Champions League bow but couldn’t toast it with a win. Not even the second half intervention of Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani could save United from defeat. Their up and down irregular season continues.
Paris Saint-Germain Pay the Penalty
The Parisians remain behind the eight ball in their Champions League campaign. Although they took the lead in Leipzig, Ángel Di Maria missed a penalty to double their advantage. And that came back to haunt them with losing a penalty of their own to be scored by Emil Forsberg. Paris’ night got worse, going onto finish the game with nine men.
Sevilla Comeback Kings
The Andalusians, going through a retched spell in La Liga after three straight defeats, looked to be heading for another loss. 2-0 down at one stage and later with Jesus Navas sent off, the Europa League champions came roaring back to win an entertaining encounter 3-2. Their pedigree in Europe on was on show for all to see once again.
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