Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League produced another electrifying round of football as Europe’s elite clubs battled for crucial points. Liverpool secured their spot in the knockout rounds with a commanding victory over Real Madrid, while Borussia Dortmund impressed with a comprehensive win. The night also witnessed dramatic comebacks from PSV Eindhoven and Benfica, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the competition. Here’s a detailed recap of the key matches from an unforgettable evening of action.
Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid: Reds Maintain Perfect Record
Liverpool continued their imperious form in the Champions League, defeating Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield to extend their perfect group-stage record. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring early in the second half after combining brilliantly with Conor Bradley, whose standout performance at right-back neutralized Kylian Mbappé throughout the game.
Caoimhín Kelleher, filling in for Alisson Becker, played a pivotal role by saving Mbappé’s penalty to keep Liverpool ahead. Mohamed Salah missed a penalty of his own moments later, but substitute Cody Gakpo sealed the win with a late header off Andy Robertson’s precise corner.
Player of the Match: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: German Giants Dominate
Borussia Dortmund moved closer to securing their knockout-stage berth with a 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb. Jamie Gittens opened the scoring with a stunning strike, cutting in from the left before unleashing an unstoppable shot.
Ramy Bensebaini added a second with a powerful header, and substitute Serhou Guirassy rounded off the scoring with a composed finish late in the game. Dortmund controlled proceedings throughout, leaving little opportunity for their Croatian opponents to respond.
Player of the Match: Ramy Bensebaini (Dortmund)
PSV Eindhoven 3-2 Shakhtar Donetsk: A Comeback for the Ages
PSV Eindhoven pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in Champions League history, overturning a 2-0 deficit in the final minutes to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2. Shakhtar took the lead with first-half goals from Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov, but their fortunes turned when they were reduced to 10 men after Pedro Henrique’s dismissal.
Malik Tillman sparked PSV’s comeback with a perfectly placed free-kick, followed by a stunning solo goal to level the score. Ricardo Pepi completed the dramatic turnaround with a last-gasp winner deep into stoppage time.
Player of the Match: Malik Tillman (PSV)
Benfica 3-2 Monaco: Di María Orchestrates Late Drama
Benfica handed Monaco their first group-stage defeat in a thrilling 3-2 encounter. Monaco took an early lead through Eliesse Ben Seghir, but Benfica responded with an equalizer from Vangelis Pavlidis early in the second half. A chaotic period followed, with disallowed goals at both ends and a red card for Monaco’s Wilfried Singo.
Ángel Di María proved decisive in the dying minutes, delivering two exquisite assists for Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni to head home, ensuring a vital victory for the Portuguese side.
Player of the Match: Ángel Di María (Benfica)
✨ Ángel Di Maria has surpassed Leo Messi with 41 assists in Champions League.
El Fideo’s just one assist away to catch up Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs (42) to have the most assists in Champions League history.
5 goals and 3 assists in the last 3 games for Benfica.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 28, 2024
Crvena Zvezda 5-1 Stuttgart: Hosts Finally Break Through
Crvena Zvezda claimed their first win of the campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Stuttgart 5-1. After conceding an early goal to Ermedin Demirović, the Serbian side roared back with goals from Rade Krunić, Mirko Ivanić, and a late brace by Nemanja Radonjić.
This comprehensive win showcased Crvena Zvezda’s attacking potential as they ended their winless streak in style.
Player of the Match: Rade Krunić (Crvena Zvezda)
Sturm Graz 1-0 Girona: Biereth’s Heroics
Sturm Graz secured their first Champions League win in over a decade with a narrow 1-0 victory against Girona. Mika Biereth scored the decisive goal in the 59th minute, pouncing on a defensive lapse to secure all three points.
Girona, despite dominating large portions of the match, failed to capitalize on their chances, with goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga making crucial saves to keep the Austrian side in contention.
Player of the Match: Mika Biereth (Sturm Graz)
Aston Villa 0-0 Juventus: Defensive Battle Ends in Stalemate
Aston Villa and Juventus played out a goalless draw in a match dominated by defensive brilliance. Villa came closest to scoring when Lucas Digne’s free-kick rattled the crossbar, while Juve’s Francisco Conceição forced a stunning save from Emiliano Martínez.
Manuel Locatelli’s tireless work in midfield ensured Juventus left Villa Park with a valuable point, preserving their unbeaten away record.
Player of the Match: Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)
Image credit: Getty Images
Bologna 1-2 Lille: Mukau Shines for French Side
Lille continued their impressive form with a 2-1 win over Bologna, thanks to a brace from Ngal’ayel Mukau. The forward opened the scoring just before halftime and sealed the victory in the second half after Bologna had briefly equalized through Jhon Lucumí.
Mukau’s clinical finishing ensured Lille’s progress in the group stage remains on track.
Player of the Match: Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille)
Celtic 1-1 Club Brugge: Points Shared in Glasgow
Celtic secured a hard-fought draw against Club Brugge after Cameron Carter-Vickers’ own goal gave the visitors the lead. Daizen Maeda salvaged a point for the hosts with a spectacular strike early in the second half. Both sides pushed for a winner, but resolute defending ensured the spoils were shared.
Player of the Match: Daizen Maeda (Celtic)
Manchester City 3-3 Feyenoord: Comeback Stuns Etihad
Manchester City squandered a 3-0 lead as Feyenoord mounted a stunning comeback to earn a 3-3 draw. Erling Haaland’s brace and İlkay Gündoğan’s deflected effort had put City in control, but Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and Dávid Hancko scored in the final 15 minutes to stun the Etihad crowd.
Player of the Match: Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord)
Summary
Matchday 5 of the Champions League delivered drama, brilliance, and stunning comebacks. Liverpool’s commanding win, Dortmund’s dominance, and late heroics from PSV and Benfica were just some of the highlights. As the group stage nears its conclusion, the battle for knockout places promises more thrilling action in Matchday 6.
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