Champions League action unfolded on Wednesday as Liverpool cruised to victory, Juventus executed a stunning comeback, and both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid faced unexpected defeats.
Here are the three most significant highlights from the day’s thrilling matches.
Liverpool Dominates Bologna to Maintain Perfect Record
After a surprising home loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League last month, Liverpool seemed to be on a tumultuous path under new manager Arne Slot, who took over from the iconic Jürgen Klopp.
However, the Reds quickly bounced back, securing a decisive 3-1 victory against AC Milan, followed by consecutive wins in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.
Their momentum continued on Wednesday at Anfield, where they comfortably defeated Bologna 2-0.
Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah, scored on either side of halftime, solidified Liverpool’s position as one of only five teams with a flawless 2-0 start in the Champions League. Salah’s exquisite left-footed strike was a highlight of the match.
Liverpool’s next challenge comes in the form of Crystal Palace in London on Saturday. Following the international break, they will face RB Leipzig in Germany on October 23, aiming for their third straight Champions League win.
10-Man Juventus Stages Unlikely Comeback in Germany
Juventus appeared to have the upper hand in the 50th minute against RB Leipzig, with star forward Dušan Vlahović equalizing after Benjamin Šeško’s first-half goal for the hosts.
However, the tide turned when goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was sent off for handling the ball outside the box, leading to a penalty for Leipzig that Šeško converted.
Despite being a man down and trailing, Juventus rallied back, with Vlahović scoring again before substitute Francisco Conceição netted the winner just eight minutes from the end of regular time.
Major Upsets as Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid Fall
Champions League upsets are not uncommon, but witnessing two former champions lose on the same day is quite rare. On Wednesday, Bayern Munich and current titleholders Real Madrid were both stunned by Aston Villa and Lille, respectively.
Aston Villa secured their victory with a single goal from former Chicago Fire forward Jhon Durán in the 79th minute, while goalkeeper Emi Martinez made seven crucial saves, impressively thwarting Real’s attempts to equalize.
Meanwhile, Lille celebrated their first-ever victory against Real Madrid, with Canadian striker Johnathan David scoring from the penalty spot just before halftime, sealing a memorable night for the French side.
