The first batch of Champions League matchday 5 fixtures happened throughout Europe on Tuesday evening, with huge outcomes for a quantity of groups.
Real Madrid, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Juventus and extra have been all on the schedule.
Take in a recap of in any respect of the motion right here…
Red Bull Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
Chelsea secured their place within the Champions League knockout levels with a win in what was the reverse fixture of Graham Potter’s first recreation in cost of the Blues. And very similar to the reverse fixture, the sport was effectively contested from the very first whistle.
Red Bull Salzburg rallied inside a boisterous Red Bull Arena and put Chelsea underneath strain from the off, however the guests responded effectively and took a deserved lead by means of Mateo Kovacic.
That opening purpose was sufficient to encourage Potter’s facet to up the degrees significantly and decimate Salzburg with a trendy first half efficiency. The hosts once more bounced again after the break, however Chelsea confirmed resilience to recover from the road with Kai Havertz’s winner.
Dinamo Zagreb 0-4 AC Milan
AC Milan took full benefit of Salzburg’s defeat earlier within the night and surged into second place within the standings due to a complete win over Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
Although they noticed barely much less of the ball, the Rossoneri have been deserved one-sided winners and took the lead within the closing levels of the primary half when Matteo Gabbia scored a header from shut vary. Milan then racked up the objectives within the second half, first by means of Rafael Leao, then 10 minutes later by Olivier Giroud from the penalty sport, and precisely one other 10 minutes by way of an personal purpose.
Milan merely have to keep away from defeat to Salzburg at dwelling on matchday six and they’ll have a spot within the knockout levels. Their earlier look within the final 16 was in 2014.
Celtic 1-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Celtic waved goodbye to any additional place in European competitors this season, with a house draw towards Shakhtar Donetsk not adequate to forestall them ending backside of the group.
The Scottish champions took a primary half lead by means of Georgios Giakoumakis. Had they held on, it might have taken them degree on factors with Shakhtar going into matchday six. As it was, in-form Mykhaylo Mudryk equalised within the second half to make sure it completed a draw.
At worst, Shakhtar are assured a spot within the Europa League knockout levels. But they are going to make it to the following spherical of the Champions League ought to they beat RB Leipzig on matchday six.
RB Leipzig 3-2 Real Madrid
Despite being weakened by a quantity of key absences, no one would’ve anticipated such a poor begin from the defending champions in Germany, who have been bullied by RB Leipzig.
Die Roten Bullen have been ruthless from the primary whistle, punishing Real Madrid for a laboured begin to the sport and racing right into a two purpose lead due to Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku.
Vinicius Junior pulled one again simply earlier than half-time and Real steadied the ship within the second half, however by no means seemed threatening sufficient. Leipzig, in the meantime, seemed menacing on the counter and scored a 3rd to place the sport past doubt, even when Rodrygo was capable of put away a penalty on the dying. A really, very poor evening on the workplace for Carlo Ancelotti’s facet.
Sevilla 3-0 Copenhagen
Sevilla lastly received their first Champions League win of the season on the fifth try because the equally win-less Copenhagen rocked up on the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Fans needed to wait patiently till the second half for objectives, with Youssef En-Nesyri ultimately breaking the impasse on the hour mark. But the outcome wasn’t sure till minutes earlier than the top when quickfire strikes from Isco and Gonzalo Montiel took the sport away from Copenhagen.
The Danes even completed the competition with 10 gamers after VAR intervened to assist in giving Davit Khocholava his marching orders deep into stoppage time.
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Manchester City
A degree did the job for each Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in a goal-less draw at Signal Iduna Park, a recreation which noticed Erling Haaland return to his previous stomping floor.
City dominated the ball all through, but it surely was Dortmund that had the higher possibilities within the first half and doubtless ought to have taken the lead at one time or one other by means of Karim Adeyemi or Youssoufa Moukoko. Riyad Mahrez then gained and missed a penalty for City after half-time.
The outcome noticed City safe prime spot within the group, whereas Dortmund have additionally booked their place within the knockout levels with a recreation to spare.
Paris Saint-Germain 7-2 Maccabi Haifa
The goal was clear for PSG; win and also you’re within the knockout levels.
What adopted was a extra aggressive recreation than most would’ve anticipated, but in addition an evening that noticed Les Parisiens’ star-studded entrance three present precisely why they’re so insatiable. Lionel Messi rolled again the years with a sensational efficiency, linking up seamlessly with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar over the course of 90 minutes.
Christophe Galtier’s facet weren’t with out their errors and have been examined by competitors minnows Maccabi Haifa, however regardless of them placing two objectives previous the hosts, they have been by no means going to trigger an upset when the attacking trident have been within the temper they have been in.
Benfica 4-3 Juventus
A scoreline that papers the cracks over yet one more regarding evening for Juventus, defeat at Benfica sees them formally out of the Champions League.
Dominated from the primary whistle, it took simply 17 minutes for them to fall behind. But regardless of responding shortly by means of Moise Kean, they’d once more crumble mere minutes later by the hands of a Joao Mario penalty, which set the tone for a whole collapse.
Benfica utterly managed the sport and added a fourth 5 minutes into the second half to make for a fairly humiliating 4-1 scoreline. It was one which mirrored Juve’s efficiency, too. Two late objectives in as many minutes Arkadiusz Milik and Weston McKennie supplied comfort, however in fact, Massimiliano Allegri’s facet by no means seemed adequate to topple Benfica, who stay undefeated this season.