Yahoo Sports đ« Real Madrid, Bayern, Villa, PSG, Levekusen, Brest, Brugge seal wins
The Champions League returned tonight for the sixth game week of the new format, and the table is now starting to fully take shape. There were nine games taking place across the continent, all of which will have major bearing on who proceeds to the knockout phase.
Here's what happened.
Big names do the business for Real
Scorers: De Ketelaere (pen) 45+2', Lookman 65'; MbappĂ© 10', VinĂcius Jr. 56', Bellingham 59'
Real Madrid had their star men to thank for a valuable three points in Bergamo, as they defeated Atalanta 3-2.
Kylian Mbappé gave Real the lead after 10 minutes with a finish reminiscent of the Frenchman at his very best.
Brahim DĂaz slipped him in, and he took a touch to get past a defender before smashing the ball into the bottom corner.
It was Mbappé 50th goal in the competition, but his night would be cut short before half-time, as he hobbled off with injury.
Atalanta drew level just before the half-time whistle through Charles De Ketelaere. Sead Kolaƥinac was fouled by Aurélien Tchouaméni, and the Belgian midfielder made no mistake from the spot.
11 minutes into the second half, VinĂcius JĂșnior, back in the lineup after a spell on the sidelines with an injury of his own, gave his side the lead for a second time, coolly finishing with his left foot after the ball bounced his way.
Jude Bellingham gave the champions breathing room shortly after, confidently striking home after cutting inside an Atalanta defender.
Atalanta didn't accept defeat, and found a way back into the contest with 25 minutes remaining. The ball came out to Ademola Lookman on the left-hand side of the box, and he cut inside before finding the net at the near post. Thibaut Courtois' positioning wasn't even poor, but the finish was perfect.
Real held out to reignite their quest for automatic qualification to the round of 16.
Bayern too strong for Shakhtar
Scorers: Kevin 5'; Laimer 11, MĂŒller 45', Olise (pen) 70, 90+3'', Musiala 85'
Bayern Munich survived an early scare to see off Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1.
Bayern were behind inside five minutes, and not for the first time, their defensive line was hugely questionable.
Shakhtar picked up a second ball, and with one pass, Kevin was in on Manuel Neuer. He still had plenty to do, but brilliantly curled a finish into the bottom corner.
Konrad Laimer quickly levelled things up, picking up a loose ball in the box and hammering in an unstoppable strike from close range.
Bayern turned the game on its head on the stroke of half time through Thomas MĂŒller. Jamal Musiala ran into the box, and fed the veteran to finish coolly with his left foot. The goal means the Bayern icon has now scored in 16 consecutive Champions League seasons.
With 20 minutes remaining, Michael Olise made things safe with a penalty, before Musiala got the goal his performance deserved, and Olise got another in added time.
The win means Vincent Kompany's side are in a strong position to qualify automatically for the last 16, with two wins from their final two games likely to see them finish in the top eight.
PSG earn much-needed three points
Scorers: Ramos 30', Mendes 72', Doué 85'
PSG sealed a much-needed Champions League win, defeating RB Salzburg 3-0.
Unsurprisingly, the French champions dominated possession, and had nearly all of the chances in the opening stages of the game. However, they couldn't find the early breakthrough, continuing their wayward scoring in this season's competition.
They eventually broke through on the half hour mark, Gonçalo Ramos just about prodding the ball home after Achraf Hakimi picked him out with a cushioned header across the goal.
It was another Portuguese international who sealed a valuable three points for Luis Enrique's side with just under 20 minutes to go. Some nice build-up play led to the ball deflecting into the path of Nuno Mendes, who ruthlessly finished from inside the box.
Desire Doué rounded off a perfect night for his side with a third late on, who will now to look to build on it, and force their way into the knockout stages.
Bayer Leverkusen strike late again
Scorers: Mukiele 90'
Bayer Leverkusen scored a late winner once again, defeating Inter 1-0 at the Bayer Arena, to maintain their place in the top eight of the Champions League.
As might have been anticipated, Leverkusen had the majority of the ball throughout the game, but Inter showed why they are one of the toughest teams in Europe to break down, limiting the Bundesliga champions to just two shots on target.
The Italian champions were on the verge of another valuable away point when Leverkusen struck late like they have done on so many occasions. This time it was Nordi Mukiele who was the hero, smashing home from inside the box after the ball fell his way.
More to follow...
Villa knock Leipzig out late on
Scorers: Openda 27', Baumgartner 62'; McGinn 3', DurĂĄn 51', Barkley 85'
Aston Villa moved into the top eight of the Champions League with a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig, who are now out of the Champions League.
Villa took the lead after just three minutes through John McGinn. Matty Cash cut in on his left foot, crossed the ball in towards Ollie Watkins who nodded it down for his captain to smash home from close range.
For all of their dominance, Villa didn't build on their lead and were made to pay for it in the 27th minute. One long ball went through the Villa defence, and LoĂŻs Openda nipped in to round a needlessly onrushing Emiliano MartĂnez and slot home.
Jhon DurĂĄn came on at half time for Watkins, and needed just six-and-a-half minutes to prove why he is the best super sub in the game right now.
Some neat interplay with Youri Tielemans saw him run at the Leipzig defence before looping the ball over PĂ©ter GulĂĄcsi for a brilliant goal.
DurĂĄn thought he had a second soon after, but Matty Casg was ruled to be offside in the build-up. Villa then lost their lead for a second time, this time Christoph Baumgartner brilliantly volleying the ball home from an Openda cross.
GulĂĄcsi kept his side level, making a fine save from Lucas Digne, before tipping a cross away from Ezri Konsa.
Ross Barkley came off the bench to hit the winner with five minutes remaining, a shot from outside the box deflecting off Lukas Klostermann.
Sporting's struggles continue at Brugge
Scorers: Quaresma (OG) 24', Nielsen 84'; Catamo 3'
Sporting's winless run in the post-Ruben Amorim era continued with a 2-1 win loss against Club Brugge.
Sporting got off to a dream start, needing just three minutes to open the scoring through Geny Catamo, who tapped home after Maximiliano Araujo's shot hit the post and fell to him.
Brugge levelled things up just over 20 minutes later, albeit somewhat fortunately. Some decent build-up eventually saw a shot from inside the box come off Sporting defender Eduardo Quaresma and past keeper Franco Israel.
With just six minutes remaining, the Belgian side took advantage of some slack defending to seal the win. Casper Nielsen was the scorer, finishing expertly after being played in on Israel.
Brest's fairytale continues
Scorers: Le Cardinal 43'
Brest's incredible Champions League debut campaign continued with a 1-0 win over PSV.
Despite being dominated for parts, Brest took the lead just before the break, Julien Le Cardinal smashing the ball from two yards out after a free-kick came his way.
They held out in the second half for another famous win, and can now begin to dream of a last 16 spot.
Salah spot kick continues 100% record
Scorers: Salah (pen) 63'
Liverpool had a Mohamed Salah penalty and an excellent performance from the returning Alisson to thank as they continued their stunning 100% record in this season's Champions League with a 1-0 win at Girona.
It could have all been easier, with the Reds almost taking the lead inside five minutes. Virgil van Dijk rose highest at a corner but his strong header was turned over by Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Alisson was called into action on his return, saving from Alejandro Frances after Daley Blind somehow missed the ball from a Miguel Gutierrez cross. Bryan Gil then made a mess of things when put through on the Brazilian, as the LaLiga side threatened to take a surprise lead.
In a frenetic first half, Darwin NĂșñez had the Reds' other good chances, mistiming a header before seeing a good strike stopped by Gazzaniga, but it was Girona who had the better of the openings. Alisson was again called into action, saving from Yaser Asprilla's swerving shot.
The second half started in a similar vein, with Liverpool's no. 1 keeping them level, saving at the near post from Arnaut Danjuma.
Liverpool took the lead from the penalty spot after the hour. Donny van de Beek was adjudged by VAR to have stood on Luis DĂaz's heel, and Mohamed Salah hammered home from 12 yards.
Despite taking the lead, the Premier League leaders were far from their best, with NĂșñez personifying their frustration, being subbed off for Cody Gakpo after another unproductive showing in front of goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold almost got a second late on but his fine free-kick was turned away by Gazzaniga, and any bigger defeat would have been harsh on Girona.
Celtic held in Zagreb
Celtic could be left ruing a missed opportunity after drawing 0-0 with Dinamo Zagreb in a game of low quality and few chances, which continued their long winless away run in the Champions League.
Despite dominating the ball for much of the first half, Celtic struggled to do much against a determined Zagreb side, who posed little threat themselves.
The second half saw the Hoops look to make the breakthrough, but the Croatian champions' low block was giving little away, Nicolas Kuhn's deflected effort being the closest they came to an opener.
Their best passage play saw Arne Engels slip the ball in for Kuhn, who then found Anthony Ralston out wide. The full-back's attempted cross was desperately disappointing, and symbolic of Celtic's final ball throughout the night.
Kasper Schmeichel ensured they stayed level, doing brilliantly tip over one of Zagreb's few chances.
Celtic almost nicked the win at the death. James Forrest played a great ball down the line for Engels, whose low ball was about to be tapped home by Adam Idah before a Zagreb defender brilliantly cleared it.
In truth, a draw was fair with neither side doing enough to secure the win.
đž ALBERTO PIZZOLI - AFP or licensors
