Villa early table toppers as Madrid complete dramatic comeback

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.

Real Madrid will play Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final! Los Blancos booked their spot in the London showpiece with a late comeback victory over Bayern. After Alphonso Davies gave the German side the lead in the tie, two Joselu strikes in the 88th and 91st minute triggered joyous scenes in the Bernabeu. We take you inside the celebrations and hear from Madrid star Jude Bellingham!

Borussia Dortmund upset the odds to beat Paris Saint Germain in both semi-final legs and reach the 2024 Champions League Final. The Germans took a slender 1-0 first leg lead to the French capital, and they replicated that scoreline to see off the 2020 Finalists 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate. In a superb defensive performance, it was centre back and UEFA Player of the Match Mats Hummels who scored the all-important goal for Dortmund on the night, and it was a lead they managed to hold onto until the end despite Paris hitting the woodwork four times during the match. We hear from Paris manager Luis Enrique and midfielder Vitinha as well as Marcel Sabitzer, Mats Hummels and manager Edin Terzic from the victorious Dortmund camp as the Germans reached their third Champions League Final and their second at Wembley. We also look ahead to Wednesday’s semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Bayern, and hear from Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham with the tie fascinatingly poised at 2-2 after the first leg in Germany.