New Delhi: Matchday 4 of Champions League 2024/25 campaign produced some of the most shocking results as the big European sides trembled and others prevailed. Top clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus were all in action tonight with just one motive- that was to progress forward and improve their position in the Champions League table. However, some interesting results from this matchday have further added more drama and spice to the league standings of this year’s Champions League.
LOSC Lille 1-1 Juventus
Un nouveau géant européen se casse les dents sur le LOSC 👏
Le LOSC a fait jeu égal avec la Juventus et prend un nouveau point dans cette Champions League 🌟
Prochaine étape, Nice en championnat 👊#LOSCJuve 1-1 I 90′
— LOSC (@losclive) November 5, 2024
Juventus and Lille shared the points after a close game that saw many opportunities and goals disallowed. The score was 1-1. David’s fourth Champions League goal of the season put the home team ahead on 27 minutes, but they were stopped just after the half when Conceicao was taken down in the box and Vlahovic scored from the penalty spot to tie the score.
Although both teams pushed forward in an attempt to win, Juventus had the better chances but were wasteful when it came to finishing, eventually meaning that they were unable to score another goal to take away the three points anyhow. In three weeks, Juventus will play unbeaten Aston Villa, while Lille will go to Bologna in Europe next.
Bologna 0-1 AS Monaco
Monaco remain unbeaten 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/5L5HVBytah
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
Bologna lost against Monaco 1-0 at home, meaning they are still without a goal in the Champions League. Singo’s goal from a corner gave the away team the lead, but VAR disallowed the goal for a foul on goalie Skorupski when the defender went to contest for the ball. The away team had been the better of the two in the first half. Golovin came near with a free kick and Embolo hit a post, but the Italian team also believed they had the lead when Castro scored through two posts but it was ruled offside.
There weren’t many good chances in the second half. It appeared like the match would end in a tie, but with five minutes left, Kehrer completed an Embolo corner with ease to give Monaco the victory and maintain their fantastic start to the tournament. Bologna is currently in 30th place and has yet to win or score a goal. While Monaco plays Strasbourg away on Sunday, they go to Roma.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sturm Graz
Malen wins it late for Dortmund ⏱️#UCL pic.twitter.com/omMiSGIdB8
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
Dortmund defeat Sturm Graz 1-0 at the Westfalenstadion to make it three victories out of four in the Champions League. Granted, it was by no means a European classic, but it didn’t appear that BVB would have a good day as Kiteishvili and company bravely defended with goal-line shenanigans in the first half.
Sahin used one of the few senior players on his bench to steal the three points, though, as half-chances continued to dominate the second period. After Dortmund pressed Graz’s passing out from the back, Malen came out and scored the game’s winning goal in the 85th minute. After they gained possession, Guirassy kept the ball and then fed the Dutchman, who used his strength to smash back across goal from the right.
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig
HUGE win for Celtic 🍀#UCL pic.twitter.com/hqAk0rZjat
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
At Celtic Park, Celtic defeated RB Leipzig 3-1 in the Champions League thanks to a brace from Kuhn. After twenty-three minutes, Kampl’s cross was converted by Baumgartner from a corner, putting the home team behind one goal. With a wonderful strike off the far post, Kuhn put Celtic back on level terms after just twelve minutes. On the cusp of halftime, he was the recipient of a spectacular Celtic move in which the German scored his second goal after Taylor cut back from the byline.
The Scottish team then increased their lead in the second half as Hatate took advantage of a Gulacsi error to score a goal as RB Leipzig gave way under their relentless pressure. Leipzig had a total of 10 shots, while the hosts finished off with and impressive 17 shots, securing their well-earned victory.
Sporting CP 4-1 Manchester City
Amorim says goodbye to Sporting CP in style 💚🤍#UCL pic.twitter.com/uPhojXAILx
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
At Estadio Jose Alvalade, Sporting CP defeated Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League with an exciting second half effort. Gyokeres continued his amazing play by scoring twice from the penalty spot after the interval to complete a hat-trick. He now leads the competition in scoring and has scored seven goals in four days. Sporting’s comeback was ignited by Araujo’s goal shortly after halftime, when the score was 1-1. It appeared that the English champions would lose again when Haaland missed a penalty.
City have now lost three straight games. They will attempt to make apologies against Feyenoord later this month, ending their record run of 26 Champions League games without a 90-minute or extra-time loss. When Amorim’s team plays Arsenal, their next European rival, they will have a new manager.
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Luis Díaz hat-trick 🎩#UCL pic.twitter.com/nml3a8vZ8g
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
Xabi Alonso’s return to Anfield turned into a complete nightmare, as Liverpool emerged a different team after the first half, thrashing Bayer Leverkusen 4-0, with Diaz winning the match ball with a hat-trick. The first half was uneventful. Leverkusen’s goal was disallowed for a handball during the build-up as the Reds and their German opponents engaged in a cagey first half.
However, Slot’s team never looked back when Diaz gave them the lead in the 61st minute. Only a few minutes later, Gakpo made it 2-0 before Salah’s second assist of the evening in the 83rd minute allowed Diaz to find the Reds’ third. Although it appeared it was the end of the hosts’ run, Liverpool’s Colombian striker had time in stoppage time to complete his treble and give the Premier League leaders—who now lead the Champions League table with their fourth consecutive victory—a remarkable evening. They will now play Aston Villa on Saturday, while Alonso’s team will play Bochum in the Bundesliga on the same day.
Real Madrid 1-3 AC Milan
Big win for Milan in Madrid 🔴#UCL pic.twitter.com/TcE8nv0dJi
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
Milan defeat Real Madrid 3-1 in Spain to achieve an incredible triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu. Thiaw headed into the goal from a Pulisic corner to give Fonseca’s team the lead in the first half. After Emerson pulled down Vinicius, he stepped up to chip past Maignan from 12 yards out, and Madrid responded from the penalty spot. After Milan capitalized on a mistake by Tchouameni, Morata scored from inside the six-yard box to put Milan ahead once more.
Madrid dominated possession after the interval, but they were unable to penetrate the Italian defence. Milan on the other hand looked much more comfortable on the pitch, and after some excellent work from Leao, Reijnders put the ball in the net to give them the victory in the second half. As a result, Madrid, who will next play Liverpool at Anfield, is now in 17th place with six points, while Milan, who will visit Slovan Bratislava later this month, is in 18th.
