Europe’s top clubs continued to fight for top spots in the 2024/25 Champions League League phase for a chance to make the knockout rounds. As we head toward the final three games, let’s reflect on the highlights, achievements, and standout performances we witnessed in Gameweek 5 of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal End Sporting Lisbon’s Unbeaten Run
Arsenal delivered a dominant performance to secure their first UEFA Champions League away win of the season with a commanding 5-1 win over the previously unbeaten Sporting Lisbon. This was by far their biggest victory on the European stage since Mikel Arteta’s reign, and it came against a side that was yet to lose a game in the 2024/25 season.
The Gunners, who failed to score in their last two European away games, struck early when Gabriel Martinelli converted Jurrien Timber’s cross in the seventh minute. Despite Sporting’s recent 4-1 win over Manchester City in Ruben Amorim’s final home game before taking charge at Manchester United, the team now led by new coach Joao Pereira did not pose a serious threat to Arsenal. Kai Havertz doubled the lead in the 22nd minute before Gabriel Magalhães headed in Declan Rice’s corner to make it 3-0. The Brazilian defender celebrated the goal by putting up Viktor Gyökeres' famous Bane celebration.
Sporting looked to have come out of the tunnel for the second half all inspired by a quick response from Goncalo Inacio's goal for the Portuguese side. However, Arsenal weathered the brief resurgence and restored their three-goal lead in the 65th minute when Saka converted a penalty following a foul on Martin Odegaard. Substitute Leandro Trossard rounded off the scoring eight minutes to push Arsenal into the top-eight teams (direct Round of 16 qualification after League phase) of the competition, leveled on points with Sporting Lisbon but ahead on goal difference.
Liverpool Closer To Round of 16 With Win Over Real Madrid
Liverpool ended their 15-year wait and eight-game winless run over Real Madrid with a 2-0 defeat over the defending champions on Wednesday night. Alexis Marc Allister and Cody Gakpo both found the back of the net at Anfield in a game that witnessed two penalty misses.
Liverpool maintained their 100% record in the Champions League and points away from being the first team to secure direct entry into this season’s Round of 16 despite witnessing the rare feet of Mohammed Sallah missing from the spot kick.
Real Madrid on the other hand, were handed their third defeat in this season’s UEFA Champions League, breaking a record that they haven’t witnessed since the competition’s inauguration. Kylian Mbappe failed to level the scores when gifted a penalty in the second half, costing Real Madrid the game. Los Blancos currently lie in the 24th place (last playoff spot) in the UCL. To be certain of a top qualification win over Atlanta, RB Salzburg and Brest is a must.
A Century of Goals for Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th and 101st UEFA Champions League goals as Barcelona defeated Stade Brestois 3-0 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Lewandowski converted a penalty in the 10th minute, having been fouled by Brest’s goalkeeper, becoming only the third player in history to reach this milestone, joining the UCL 100-goal club which only consists of 5-time and 8-time Ballon d’Or winners - Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi respectively. FC Barcelona has been exceptional in the Champions League this season. They had scored 14 times before this encounter with the French underdogs, and they faced a resilient defensive system after Lewy's first goal. While Lamine Yamal was absent, Dani Olmo continued his impressive stats in Barca colors after breaking the deadlock in the second half. The Spaniard gave the Catalan visitors the lead with a brilliant solo effort, skipping past two defenders to score from close range. Lewandowski sealed the victory for Barca in added time, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from the home side.
The win moves Barcelona to third in the group with 12 points, trailing Inter, who lead with 13. Brest, having suffered their first Champions League loss of the season, remained on 10 points in ninth place (a playoff position).
Lewandowski now has 101 Champions League goals to his name with three different clubs (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona), and seven in just 5 UCL League phase games this season. In total, the 36-year-old Polish striker has scored 22 times and made two assists in 19 games this season, cementing his place among one of the best finishers in football’s history. His UCL century of goals was achieved in 125 matches, which is faster than Ronaldo’s 137 games and just two matches behind Messi’s record of 123. He needs 28 more goals to reach Messi’s 129 goals and 40 goals to break Cristiano Ronaldo’s record. Whether he will be able to reach and break these feet remains uncertain given his age. The Polish captain has previously won the Champions League under current Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and will be looking towards making history at the competition with Barcelona.
Feyonoord’s Amazing Comeback Threatens Pep Guardiola’s Legacy; Haaland Breaks Another UCL Record
Pep Guardiola said he expected a slip in Manchester City's standards sooner or later but even he has been shocked by the English champions' five-game losing streak, failing to claim three points with a 70-minute 3-0 lead on Tuesday night would be a questionable ground in the Spanish coach’s nine-year legacy at the Club.
Feyenoord pulled one of the greatest come-backs in UCL history against City who were three goals up until the 75th minute, thanks to Erling Haaland’s brace and İlkay Gündoğan. Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and Dávid Hancko scored within 14th minutes to drag a point (3-3) off the English champions at the Etihad. The game witnessed Pep Guardiola’s frustrations with the team who couldn’t hold on to their lead. Although winning their first point in six games, the coach who just penned down a new contract with the team risks losing his legacy of Champions League knockout qualifications if the team continues to decline in performances. Pep’s team has been left vulnerable without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in the mix. They have three more games to make things right and get a direct spot into the round of 16. But facing Juventus, PSG and Club Brugge who are also fighting for playoff qualifications will be no work in the park for Pep Guardiola’s team.
Feyonoord’s hard-earned point gives them an edge in the playoff rounds after winning two of their previous five. They hope to keep up this performance at the Dutch League when they face Fortuna Sittard in their push to reclaim dominance.
Meanwhile, Erling became the fastest player to reach 50 G/A in the Champions League with his 45 goals and 5 assists in the competition with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.
Antoine Griezmann Joins UCL’s Famous Century Markers
Atlético Madrid star Antoine Griezmann on Tuesday evening joined an exclusive European club of European goalscorers who marked their 100th appearance in the competition with a goal.
Diego Simeone’s men marked their return to the Champions League after the break with a trip to the Czech capital for a showdown with Sparta Praha. The visitors came out on top with an impressive performance that saw the Czechs beaten 6-0 in their backyard. New signing Julian Alvarez scored twice before the hour mark, setting the pace for Marcos Llorente’s goal before halftime. Griezmann came on for Alexander Sørloth to mark his century of appearances in the competition with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. He made his mark 10 minutes later to become the seventh player to score on his 100th Champions League appearance after Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andrea Pirlo, Toni Kroos, and Robert Lewandowski. The Frenchman has now scored 38 goals and made 13 assists in the Champions League while being named to two Champions League squads of the season in his illustrious career.
Another substitute Ángel Correa came on for Julian Alvarez in the 80th minute and quickly punished the home side twice in four minutes to hand the Spanish visitors a dominating victory. With three wins from five games, Atlético Madrid is on the right track to securing a much-needed UCL playoff qualification. Games with Slovan Bratislava, Bayer Leverkusen, and Salzburg will determine their faith.
Other 2024/25 UCL Results from Gameweek 5
Tuesday 26th November Slovan Bratislava 2-3 AC Milan Sparta Prague 0-6 Atlético Madrid Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 Red Bull Salzburg Bayern Munich 1-0 PSG Inter Milan 1-0 RB Leipzig Young Boys 1-6 Atalanta
Wednesday, November 27th Red Star Belgrade 5–1 Stuttgart Sturm Graz 1–0 Girona Aston Villa 0–0 Juventus Bologna 1–2 Lille Celtic 1–1 Club Brugge Dinamo Zagreb 0–3 Borussia Dortmund Monaco 2–3 Benfica PSV 3–2 Shakhtar Donetsk