🖐️ things we learned from Tuesday’s Champions League action

The Champions League did not disappoint on Tuesday night as we saw upsets, stellar solo performances, and a classic remontada in Madrid. 

Here is what went down.

It’s in the blood

No lead is safe away to Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Borussia Dortmund learned that lesson the hard way in their 5-2 loss to the Spanish giants.

It was looking rather rosy for the visitors in the first-half when they raced out to a two-goal advantage before the break, but they were taught why opposition fans and players feel like there is a hex placed up on the Santiago Bernabéu on these big Champions League nights.

Five second-half goals from the hosts, including a hat-trick from Vinicius Junior saw Real Madrid blow Dortmund away, inflicting further misery on them after last season’s final victory.

With the firepower at their disposal, you just wouldn’t count them out of any game, no matter the score.

And to think they are still figuring out how to make all the pieces fit together! When they do, look out…

Shades of 2017 from Monaco

Football is far from the main talking point in cafes and pubs in Monaco, but every once in a while we see a superb team grace the Stade Louis II pitch. 

After thumping Red Star Belgrade 5-1 Tuesday evening, the Ligue 1 outfit ensured they remain unbeaten in all competitions this season, and they did it in style.

A brace and assists from Takumi Minamino gave us a lovely reminder of just how slick the Japanese forward can be on his day. It may have been his first time finding the back of the net in this competition since 2019, but it was a night to remember from the former Liverpool man.

Monaco have fallen out of the picture in the Champions League and Ligue 1 since the scintillating 2016/17 team that went to the semifinals of the former and won the latter.

After beating a new-look Barcelona side in the opening matchday of the Champions League this season, they’ve shown they can hang with the big-boys too. Could this team give the 16/17 outfit a run for their money this season?

Viktor Gyökeres remains Europe’s most wanted

Scandinavian strikers may just be the new Brazilian wingers, and Viktor Gyökeres is quickly making himself the most wanted man in Europe heading into the upcoming transfer windows.

The former Coventry man showed why he is so highly-coveted with a stunning display of pace, power, and finishing ability when he put Sporting ahead by two in Austria Tuesday evening.

It was the forward’s 13th goal in as many games, and his second in the Champions League.

There is a laundry list of reasons why the Swede will move to one of the biggest clubs in Europe in the next 10 months, and every item on the list was on show in the Champions League this week.

Just how high is his ceiling?

Arsenal continue to miss the ruthless finish

A win is a win at this stage of the Champions League for a club like Arsenal who are looking to become one of the big boys in the competition once again. But if they are going to accomplish that feat, they will have to learn to be more ruthless in front of goal.

The Gunners were perhaps fortunate to walk away with all three points after only managing an own-goal to take the lead and missing a chance to double it through Leandro Trossard from the penalty spot.

Mikel Arteta’s side have shown a propensity to allow opposition teams a slice of the possession this season, but their stout defence has kept things solid — that may not be entirely sustainable.

Perhaps a Scandinavian striker previously mentioned in this article could make a difference…

Juventus look refreshed, but they still have plenty to learn

Juventus had felt stale for years before Thiago Motta came in and some young, burgeoning stars made their way into the new coach’s plans.

But Tuesday evening’s home loss to Stuttgart was a reminder they still have plenty of lessons to learn before they regain their place in the upper echelon of European football.

While it was the veteran Danilo who was sent off in the dying minutes, the likes of Kenan Yıldız, Khéphren Thuram, Nicolò Savona, and Juan Cabal have hardly fought through back-against-the-wall performances in the Champions League at any point in their careers.

This group of youngsters has plenty of room to grow, and grow they will. However, that growth won’t come without pain on their way to joining the picture once again.

It must be added Stuttgart were deserved winners on a famous night for the club and their highly-rated manager Sebastian Hoeneß.