Real Madrid, Champions of Europe

There were five away wins on Wednesday of Matchday Four. Barcelona secured a 5-2 victory at Crvena Zvezda, while Brest won 2-1 at Sparta Praha, Salzburg recorded a 3-1 away win at Feyenoord, Atalanta beat Stuttgart 2-0 in Germany, and Atletico scored a dramatic late winner in Paris. But at San Siro, Inter edged Arsenal 1-0 thanks to Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s first half penalty to take Nerazzurri to ten points in the league phase. We hear from Inter’s player of the match, as well as Atalanta goalscorer Ademola Lookman. We also react to Club Brugge’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa, hearing from Brugge boss Nicky Hayen, plus speak about Shakhtar’s 2-1 win over Young Boys.

Matchday 4 kicked off in style with some eye-catching results across Europe. Ruben Amorim said an emotional goodbye to Sporting with a thumping 4-1 win over Manchester City in his last home game in charge, thanks to a Viktor Gyökeres hat-trick. There was another hat-trick hero at Anfield as Luis Diaz inspired Liverpool to a comprehensive 4-0 win over Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side to continue their 100% start to the League Phase. However, the surprise of the night came at the Barnabeu where Milan beat Real Madrid 3-1 in the battle of the European giants. There were also wins for Celtic, Monaco, Dortmund, PSV and Dinamo Zagreb, while Lille and Juventus drew 1-1. We hear from Sporting match-winner Viktor Gyökeres, Liverpool manager Arne Slot, as well as Celtic’s Nicolas Kühn, PSV’s Malik Tillman and Dinamo’s Sandro Kulenovic.

Raphinha was the hat-trick hero in Barcelona's sensational 4-1 victory over Bayern München on another extraordinary league phase night. Elsewhere in Spain, Lille bagged a famous away win over Atletico, while Liverpool, Manchester City, Inter, Dinamo and Feyenoord also secured 3 points on Wednesday. We hear from Virgil van Dijk, Phil Foden, Thomas Muller and Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers, after his side earned a valuable point away to Atalanta. 

It was another enthralling night in the UEFA Champions League as Real Madrid came back from two goals down at home to overcome Borussia Dortmund 5-2 thanks to a stunning second half hat-trick from Vinicius Jnr. However, the early League Phase leaders are Aston Villa, after they continued their golden start in the competition, beating Bologna 2-0 at home to make it three wins – and three clean sheets – out of three. Elsewhere, the surprise of the night took place in Turin, where Stuttgart left it late to beat Juventus, while there were also crucial wins for Monaco, Milan, Arsenal, Girona and Sporting. We hear from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, Monaco winger Takumi Minamino and Aston Villa’s table topping manager Unai Emery. 

There was late drama across the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, as Jhon Durán’s second half stunner handed Aston Villa a famous victory over Bayern. Meanwhile, Lille shocked defending Champions Real Madrid 1-0 courtesy of a Jonathan David penalty. There were also crucial victories for Juventus, Benfica, Feyenoord, Liverpool and Club Brugge. Among others we hear from Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez, Bayern striker Harry Kane, Liverpool goalscorer Alexis MacAllister and Lille’s Player of the Match Edon Zhegrova.

Borussia Dortmund put seven past Celtic to claim their second win of the league phase. There were also important wins for Arsenal against Paris, and Leverkusen against Milan. While Brest, Inter, Barcelona and Manchester City recorded impressive victories.  We hear from Arsenal goalscorer Kai Havertz, Brest hero Abdallah Sima and City boss Pep Guardiola. Plus, we look ahead to Wednesday’s action, hearing from Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. 

Monaco marked their return to the UEFA Champions League with a statement 2-1 win over Barcelona. Leverkusen impressed as they scored four at Feyenoord to get their campaign off to the best possible start. Meanwhile, a superb David Raya double save from Mateo Retegui’s penalty ensured the game between Atalanta and Arsenal finished goalless. Benfica and Atletico de Madrid both secured 2-1 wins, whilst Brest also clinched victory against Sturm Graz in their very first European game. We hear from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, Atalanta star Charles de Ketelaere, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong and his head coach Xabi Alonso as well as Feyenoord coach Brian Priske.

Manchester City and Inter had to settle for a point to start their Champions League campaigns, after a competitive goalless draw in the North West of England. Elsewhere a late winner for Paris was enough to see past Girona, while last year's runners-up Borussia Dortmund secured an impressive victory at Club Brugge. There were statement wins from Celtic and Sparta Praha, who marked themselves as teams to watch as the League phase progresses. We hear from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Celtic captain Callum McGregor, Dortmund’s double-goalscorer Jamie Gittens and Sparta coach Lars Friis. 

The new League Phase started in style as Bayern hit a record nine goals against Dinamo in Munich, with Harry Kane grabbing four – including a first ever hat-trick of Champions League penalties. In Milan, Liverpool recovered from conceding an early goal to run out comfortable 3-1 victors, with two set piece headers from centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. Elsewhere there were impressive home wins for defending champions Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting whilst Aston Villa began their first Champions League campaign for 42 years with a convincing 3-0 win against Young Boys in Switzerland. We hear from four goal-hero Harry Kane, Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, Sporting striker Viktor Gyökeres, Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and the scorer of the League Phase’s first ever goal, Juve teenager Kenan Yıldız.

Real Madrid claimed their 15th UEFA Champions League title with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London thanks to 2nd half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr. We soak up the atmosphere of the celebrations, hearing from Madrid’s English star Jude Bellingham, and reflect on another remarkable season in the Champions League.