UEFA Champions League Roundup: Manchester City Fight Back, Arsenal Stay Perfect, and Juventus Claim First Home Win
In a dramatic night of Champions League action across Europe, giants Manchester City, Arsenal, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain all faced pivotal tests as the group stage tightened. From last-minute equalizers to commanding displays, Thursday’s slate delivered intensity, controversy, and major shifts in the standings.
City Rally at the Bernabéu to Defeat Real Madrid 2–1
Manchester City showed resilience and composure under pressure as they came from behind to defeat Real Madrid 2–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Rodrygo stunned City with a clinical finish on the counterattack in the 28th minute, capitalizing on City’s shaky defensive shape early on. Real Madrid looked dangerous every time they broke forward within the opening half-hour.
But Pep Guardiola’s side regrouped.
Nico O’Reilly scored an opportunistic equalizer, pouncing inside the box to fire home. Later, Erling Haaland sealed the comeback win from the penalty spot after a tense VAR review confirmed the foul.
The victory strengthens City’s top-seed chances heading into the knockout rounds and hands Madrid a rare home setback.
Juventus Grind Out First Home Champions League Win
Juventus finally secured their first home win of this Champions League campaign, but it didn’t come easy. Italian midfielder Weston McKennie broke the deadlock with a composed finish early in the second half, and Jonathan David added another to seal a 2–0 victory over a stubborn Pafos side.
Despite the scoreline, Pafos were competitive and created real problems for Juve. The Italian side, however, showed maturity, earning back-to-back European wins that push them into strong contention for qualification.
Grimaldo’s Late Strike Rescues Leverkusen vs Newcastle
A thrilling matchup in Germany saw Bayer Leverkusen salvage a dramatic 2–2 draw thanks to an 88th-minute strike from Alex Grimaldo.
Newcastle had overturned a 1–0 deficit with goals from Anthony Gordon and Lewis Miley, and even struck the post twice, looking destined for a valuable away win. But Leverkusen’s relentless pressure paid off as Grimaldo burst into the box late to fire home the equalizer.
The draw keeps both clubs hovering near the playoff line, where every point matters.
Arsenal Stay Perfect With 3–0 Win Over Club Brugge
Arsenal continued their flawless Champions League run, securing their sixth win in six matches with a dominant 3–0 victory at Club Brugge.
Noni Madueke struck twice, while Gabriel Martinelli added a composed finish to complete the sweep. With 18 points and a +14 goal differential, Arsenal have mathematically secured a top-eight finish — allowing them to skip February’s playoff round and advance directly to the last 16.
Brugge remain stuck at four points and in danger of missing out on the knockouts.
PSG Held to First Goalless Draw of the Season
Paris Saint-Germain’s high-powered attack was neutralized in a 0–0 stalemate against Athletic Bilbao — their first scoreless match of the season.
Unai Simon was the star of the night, making multiple acrobatic saves to deny PSG’s forwards. The absence of Ousmane Dembélé was evident as Enrique’s side struggled to convert chances despite improved second-half control.
PSG remain on pace for direct qualification to the Round of 16.
Benfica Revive Their Campaign With Crucial 2–0 Win Over Napoli
Benfica’s Richard Ríos delivered a standout performance, scoring one goal and assisting another to lead his side to a vital 2–0 win over Napoli.
After a slow start to their European season, Benfica have now earned two straight wins, climbing to 25th in the overall standings — just one point shy of the playoff line. Napoli, meanwhile, slid to 23rd with seven points and rising pressure to perform.
Dortmund Held to 2–2 Draw by Spirited Bodo/Glimt
Julian Brandt scored twice for Borussia Dortmund, but defensive lapses cost them a full three points as Bodo/Glimt fought back twice to secure a 2–2 draw.
Dortmund sit 10th in the standings with 11 points, while Bodo/Glimt remain winless but continue to frustrate opponents with disciplined counterattacking play.