The opening night of UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 delivered thrilling surprises and impressive performances as European heavyweights battled it out. Sporting CP stole the show with a stunning 4-1 victory over Manchester City, led by Viktor Gyökeres’ incredible hat-trick, while AC Milan pulled off a historic win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. Liverpool also continued their flawless league phase campaign with a dominant 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Here’s a roundup of all the action and highlights from Tuesday’s matches.
Sporting CP 4-1 Manchester City: Gyökeres’ Hat-Trick Seals Historic Win
Sporting CP produced the night’s biggest upset with a 4-1 win over defending English champions Manchester City. Viktor Gyökeres led the charge, scoring a hat-trick to end City’s 27-match unbeaten streak in the Champions League. Phil Foden had given City an early lead, but Gyökeres equalized with a well-timed finish off Geovany Quenda’s pass.
Sporting took control early in the second half, with Maximiliano Araújo finishing off a well-orchestrated team goal right from kick-off. Gyökeres then added two penalties, while Erling Haaland missed a chance to reduce the deficit after hitting the crossbar from a penalty. The win was especially meaningful as it marked the final home game for Sporting’s outgoing coach Rúben Amorim. Gyökeres’ stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match title and solidified Sporting’s position in the league phase.
AC Milan 3-1 Real Madrid: Milan Breaks 15-Year Bernabéu Curse
AC Milan secured a historic 3-1 victory over Real Madrid, their first win at the Bernabéu in 15 years. Milan took the lead with Malick Thiaw’s powerful header from a corner, but Vinícius Júnior equalized for Madrid with a well-placed penalty. Álvaro Morata quickly restored Milan’s advantage, reacting first to slot in after Rafael Leão’s attempt was parried by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
With Madrid pushing forward for an equalizer, Milan launched a swift counterattack, allowing Leão to square the ball to Tijjani Reijnders, who finished confidently to seal the victory. Mike Maignan’s crucial saves earned him the Player of the Match award, and Milan’s victory highlighted their resurgence in European competition.
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Díaz Treble Keeps Liverpool Perfect
Liverpool maintained their perfect Champions League run with a commanding 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, marking Xabi Alonso’s return to Anfield as Leverkusen’s manager. After a goalless first half, Liverpool’s offense came alive in the second. Luis Díaz opened the scoring with a stylish finish, followed by Cody Gakpo’s header just two minutes later. Díaz struck twice more to complete his hat-trick, as Liverpool continued their unbeaten streak in the league phase.
Díaz’s outstanding performance and clinical finishing earned him the Player of the Match title. Liverpool now heads into Matchday 5 with confidence, and fans can anticipate an exciting clash against Real Madrid in their upcoming fixture.
Celtic 3-1 Leipzig: Kühn Shines with a Brace
Celtic delighted home fans with a 3-1 victory over Leipzig, inspired by a brace from former Leipzig youth player Nicolas Kühn. Christoph Baumgartner initially put Leipzig ahead with a header from Kevin Kampl’s corner, but Kühn responded with a superb curling equalizer. He added another just before halftime, marking Celtic’s 350th goal in the Champions League. Reo Hatate later sealed the win for Celtic, while goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s saves ensured a perfect home record.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sturm Graz: Malen’s Late Goal Secures Win
Borussia Dortmund narrowly defeated Sturm Graz 1-0, thanks to a late strike from Donyell Malen. Dortmund dominated the game, with Kjell Scherpen making key saves to deny Pascal Gross and Maximilian Beier. Malen’s goal in the final moments secured the win and kept Dortmund on track for the next round.
PSV Eindhoven 4-0 Girona: Tillman Stars as PSV Thrash Girona
PSV Eindhoven earned their first points of the league phase with an emphatic 4-0 win over Girona. Malik Tillman played a key role, scoring once and assisting another goal. PSV took the lead through Ryan Flamingo’s acrobatic finish, followed by Tillman’s solo effort. Girona’s captain, Arnau Martínez, was sent off in the second half, and PSV capitalized with goals from Johan Bakayoko and an own goal by Ladislav Krejčí. Tillman’s performance earned him the Player of the Match title.
GNK Dinamo 4-1 Slovan Bratislava: Kulenović Double Secures Away Victory
GNK Dinamo Zagreb powered past Slovan Bratislava with a 4-1 victory. Despite conceding an early goal to David Strelec, Dinamo quickly responded with goals from Dario Špikić and Petar Sučić. Sandro Kulenović scored twice in the second half to complete the comeback. Kulenović’s dominant performance was recognized with the Player of the Match award, as Dinamo claimed a crucial away win.
Monaco 1-0 Bologna: Kehrer’s Late Strike Keeps Monaco on Track
Thilo Kehrer’s late goal secured a 1-0 victory for Monaco over Bologna, maintaining their impressive start in the league phase. Kehrer prodded in from a corner in the 86th minute, capitalizing on Breel Embolo’s flick. Monaco’s defense, anchored by goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski, held strong as Bologna remained scoreless, continuing their search for their first Champions League goal.
LOSC Lille 1-1 Juventus: Vlahović Levels the Score for Juventus
LOSC Lille and Juventus shared the points in a tightly contested 1-1 draw. Jonathan David opened the scoring for Lille with a smooth finish after connecting with Edon Zhegrova’s pass. Dušan Vlahović equalized for Juventus from the penalty spot after André was penalized for a trip on Francisco Conceição. Ayyoub Bouaddi’s consistent play earned him the Player of the Match honor, as both teams remain tied in the standings with seven points.
Looking Ahead to Matchday 5
The excitement continues as Champions League Matchday 5 approaches, promising more thrilling matchups. Liverpool will face Real Madrid in one of the marquee games, with both teams vying for top spots in the league phase. Sporting CP will aim to build on their impressive win as they meet PSV Eindhoven, while Manchester City will look to bounce back after their stunning loss to Sporting.
As the competition intensifies, fans can expect more surprises and standout performances from Europe’s best clubs. With only a few matches remaining in the league phase, every point counts as teams fight for advancement to the knockout rounds.
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