Champions League: Barcelona, Inter and upstart Brest win again
Barcelona and Inter Milan continued their winning streaks in the Champions League this week, but it’s the newcomer Brest that has been turning heads with their impressive performance in the standings. Aston Villa, who started the week at the top of the table, suffered a setback after a controversial penalty decision led to a 1-0 loss against Club Brugge, dropping them down to eighth place.
Paris Saint-Germain, playing without Kylian Mbappé for the first time, finds themselves in 25th place after a late goal by Atletico Madrid secured a 2-1 victory at Parc des Princes. Meanwhile, Barcelona showed their dominance with a 5-2 win over Red Star Belgrade, maintaining their impeccable form with seven consecutive wins since October, scoring an average of four goals per game. Star striker Robert Lewandowski continued his impressive run with two goals in the match, bringing his season tally to 21.
Inter Milan also impressed with a solid 1-0 victory over Arsenal at San Siro, thanks to Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s penalty just before halftime. The Italian side remains unbeaten on 10 points and sits in fifth place, just below Brest, who secured a 2-1 win against Sparta Prague.
In other matches, Atalanta maintained their unbeaten record with a 2-0 win against Stuttgart, while Salzburg earned their first goals and points in a 3-1 victory over Feyenoord. Bayern Munich also secured a 1-0 win against Benfica, although the game was delayed due to crowd congestion and played in a subdued atmosphere following a medical incident involving a fan.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Heorhiy Sudakov stole the show with a fantastic assist and goal in a 2-1 win against Young Boys, showcasing why he is considered the club’s next big prospect. Liverpool, on the other hand, continued their dominance with a resounding 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, maintaining their position at the top of the standings.
As we approach the midway point of the Champions League group stage, Liverpool stands out as the only team with four consecutive wins, while five teams have suffered four losses each. Inter Milan and Atalanta have yet to concede a goal in four games, while Bologna remains the only team without a goal scored.
Looking ahead, the upcoming fifth round of matches promises some exciting fixtures, including a highly anticipated clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid on November 27. Other intriguing matchups include Bayern Munich facing PSG in a rematch of the 2020 final and Barcelona taking on surprise package Brest.
With only the top eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16 in March, the competition is heating up as teams vie for a spot in the knockout phase. Stay tuned for more thrilling action in the Champions League.
