Champions League Roundup: Bayern’s Perfect Run Continues As Liverpool Beats Madrid

‎Bayern Munich continued their stunning winning start to the 2025/26 season, securing a 2-1 victory away to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain to make it 16 wins from 16 in all competitions.

‎Díaz Double and Red Card in Paris

‎PSG began brightly with their usual high pressing, but Bayern punished them within minutes. In just the fourth minute, Michael Olise’s fierce drive was parried by Lucas Chevalier, and Díaz was quickest to react, slamming home the rebound to silence the Parc des Princes.

‎Ousmane Dembélé thought he had equalised midway through the half, only for VAR to rule him offside. Bayern, ruthless and composed, struck again on 32 minutes when Marquinhos hesitated in possession, allowing Díaz to steal the ball and slot in a second.

‎However, Díaz’s evening took a dark turn just before halftime. The Colombian winger lunged recklessly at Achraf Hakimi, earning a straight red card and leaving the Moroccan full-back in tears with a suspected ankle injury.

‎Hakimi’s injury compounded PSG’s woes, as they also lost Dembélé earlier in the match.

‎João Neves halved the deficit with a stylish scissor kick soon after the break, and PSG dominated possession thereafter. But despite waves of attacks, the Parisians couldn’t find an equaliser.

‎It was their first Champions League defeat since last season’s quarter-final against Aston Villa.

‎“It’s always hard to lose at home. We need to assert ourselves and play better. We faced a well-organised team, especially in terms of physical organisation.

‎”We couldn’t get our game going,” the PSG captain, Marquinhos, said.

‎The win leaves Bayern top of the Champions League’s new 36-team league phase on 12 points, while PSG sit third, three points adrift and facing an injury crisis.

‎Juventus Held Again

‎In Turin, Juventus’ struggles in Europe continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sporting. Maximiliano Araújo opened the scoring for the Portuguese side before Dušan Vlahović equalised for the hosts.

‎The draw means Juventus remain winless in four Champions League matches, despite a managerial change that saw Luciano Spalletti replace Igor Tudor.

‎Araújo’s early strike, a precise low shot that kissed the post on its way in, gave Sporting the lead in the 12th minute. Vlahović responded before halftime, toe-poking Khephren Thuram’s perfectly weighted pass past Rui Silva.

‎Despite improved performances under Spalletti, Juventus sits on just three points from four games. Sporting, meanwhile, continues its strong form, moving to seven points and strengthening its position in the top eight.

‎Pepi Rescues PSV in Athens

‎Olympiakos were seconds away from a famous win until Ricardo Pepi spoiled the party. The American striker reacted fastest to a rebound from a stoppage-time free-kick to snatch a 1-1 draw for PSV Eindhoven in Greece.

‎The hosts had led from the 17th minute through Gelson Martins’ cool finish, and looked set to record their first Champions League win of the season. Pepi’s late equaliser, however, leaves Olympiakos still searching for three points, while PSV remain competitive in the middle of the standings.

‎Atlético Madrid Stay in the Hunt

‎At the Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid secured a crucial 3-1 win over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise to stay in the qualification race.

‎Julián Álvarez opened the scoring with a stunning half-volley after good work from Giuliano Simeone, while Conor Gallagher doubled the lead with a bullet strike midway through the second half.

‎Union Saint-Gilloise pulled one back through Ross Sykes’ towering header, but Marcos Llorente sealed the points late on.

‎The win lifts Atlético to six points, level with five other clubs in a congested mid-table, while Union remains outside the qualification zone on three points.

‎Balogun Strikes for Monaco in Norway

‎Folarin Balogun was Monaco’s hero once again, netting the only goal in a 1-0 win over Bodø/Glimt. The U.S. international showed sharp movement to latch onto a through ball and fire into the top corner before halftime.

‎Bodø/Glimt’s night unraveled further when Jostein Gundersen was sent off for a reckless stamp on substitute Mika Biereth.

‎With the rain pouring and the hosts down to ten men, Monaco held on comfortably for three points that moved them up to 18th in the standings.

‎Napoli Hold Firm, Liverpool Edge Madrid

‎In Naples, Antonio Conte’s Napoli managed to stop the defensive rot with a goalless draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. After conceding six in their previous European outing, Conte’s men looked more organised but still lacked cutting edge in attack.

‎At Anfield, Liverpool claimed one of the night’s biggest wins a 1-0 triumph over Real Madrid. Alexis Mac Allister, once again the difference-maker against Los Blancos, found the net with a crisp finish to give Arne Slot’s men a crucial victory.

‎Thibaut Courtois produced a string of world-class saves to keep Real in the contest, denying Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, and Hugo Ekitike.

‎Yet even the Belgian’s heroics couldn’t rescue Madrid, who continue to struggle against English opposition, winning just two of their last ten such fixtures.