Champions League takeaways highlight Barcelona’s stunning comeback against Benfica and Liverpool’s continued dominance. The UEFA Champions League embraced a new format for the 2024-25 season, making headlines on Tuesday as the first round of this elite club competition extended into the new year for the first time.
Matchday 7 marked a historic moment in the tournament, and it did not disappoint. Liverpool maintained their perfect record as they secured a victory, keeping their momentum strong as they head into the concluding phase of this innovative “league” format.
Last season’s finalist, Borussia Dortmund, had an opportunity to climb to second place in the expanded 36-team table but faltered, losing a 1-0 lead in Italy against Bologna. Meanwhile, Barcelona showcased resilience, overcoming a significant deficit to claim victory in a rain-soaked Lisbon.
Here are three key takeaways from Tuesday’s thrilling matches.
Barcelona’s thrilling comeback stuns Benfica
Barcelona’s performance in the Champions League this season speaks volumes; even with a loss on Tuesday, the five-time European champions would have remained in second place in the standings, regardless of Wednesday’s results.
For much of the match against Benfica, it appeared defeat was imminent. The Catalan side fell behind almost immediately, trailing 3-1 before halftime.
After narrowing the gap to 3-2 in the second half, Barcelona faced another setback as Benfica restored their two-goal lead with just 22 minutes left on the clock. However, the final moments of the match provided a dramatic twist.
In a memorable finish, Barcelona equalized with goals from Eric Garcia and Robert Lewandowski. As Benfica pushed for a late winner, Barcelona launched a swift counterattack led by Raphinha, who scored the decisive fifth goal, sealing an incredible comeback.
Liverpool continues to find a way to win
Champions League takeaways reveal that Liverpool remains a force to be reckoned with. Despite a mixed bag of results in domestic competitions since January, the Reds have been exceptional in the Champions League. Their latest victory came at Anfield, where they defeated Lille 2-1.
The match was not without challenges. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring, but Lille’s Jonathan David equalized against the run of play shortly after the hour mark, even after Lille had one player sent off. Nevertheless, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott found the net in the 67th minute, securing the win.
With this victory, Liverpool improved to 7-0 in the tournament and has already secured a spot in the round of 16. They will conclude the first round against PSV Eindhoven on January 29.
Dortmund faces more challenges
For Borussia Dortmund, the Champions League has been a refuge from their struggles in the Bundesliga this season. On Tuesday, they led Bologna 1-0 until the 70th minute, thanks to a penalty from Serhou Guirassy, but disaster struck.
In a shocking turn of events, Bologna equalized through Thijs Dallinga, and just a minute later, Samuel Iling-Junior scored to give Bologna the lead.
This defeat adds to the pressure on Dortmund’s manager, Nuri Şahin, who faces uncertainty ahead of their next match against Shakhtar Donetsk. For Bologna, this victory was historic, marking their first Champions League win despite their position in the standings.
