The Champions League returns tonight for the sixth game week of the new format, and the table is beginning to take shape. There are nine games taking place across the continent, all of which could have a major bearing on who proceeds to the knockout phase.
Follow all the action here.
Atalanta vs Real Madrid
Scorers: Mbappé 10′
Kylian Mbappé gave Real the lead after 10 minutes with a finish reminiscent of the Frenchman at his very best.
Brahim DÃaz slipped him in, and he took a touch to get past a defender before smashing the ball into the bottom corner.
More to follow…
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich
Scorers: Kevin 5′
Bayern went behind inside five minutes, and not for the first time, their defensive line was hugely questionable.
Shakhtar picked up a second ball, and with one pass, Kevin was in on Manuel Neuer. He still had plenty to do, but he brilliantly curled a finish into the bottom corner.
Konrad Laimer quickly levelled things up, picking up a loose ball in the box and hammering in an unstoppable strike from close range.
More to follow…
RB Salzburg vs PSG
More to follow…
Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter
More to follow…
RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa
Scorers: McGinn 3′
Villa took the lead after just three minutes through John McGinn. Matty Cash cut in on his left foot, crossed the ball in towards Ollie Watkins who nodded it down for his captain to smash home from close range.
More to follow…
Club Brugge vs Sporting
Scorers: Catamo 3′
Sporting needed just three minutes to open the scoring through Geny Catamo, who tapped home after Maximiliano Araujo’s shot hit the post and fell to him.
More to follow…
Brest vs PSV
More to follow…
Earlier
Salah spot kick continues 100% record
Scorers: Salah (pen) 63′
Liverpool had a Mohamed Salah penalty and an excellent performance from the returning Alisson to thank as they continued their stunning 100% record in this season’s Champions League with a 1-0 win at Girona.
It could have all been easier, with the Reds almost taking the lead inside five minutes. Virgil van Dijk rose highest at a corner but his strong header was turned over by Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Alisson was called into action on his return, saving from Alejandro Frances after Daley Blind somehow missed the ball from a Miguel Gutierrez cross. Bryan Gil then made a mess of things when put through on the Brazilian, as the LaLiga side threatened to take a surprise lead.
In a frenetic first half, Darwin Núñez had the Reds’ other good chances, mistiming a header before seeing a good strike stopped by Gazzaniga, but it was Girona who had the better of the openings. Alisson was again called into action, saving from Yaser Asprilla’s swerving shot.
The second half started in a similar vein, with Liverpool’s no. 1 keeping them level, saving at the near post from Arnaut Danjuma.
Liverpool took the lead from the penalty spot after the hour. Donny van de Beek was adjudged by VAR to have stood on Luis DÃaz’s heel, and Mohamed Salah hammered home from 12 yards.
Despite taking the lead, the Premier League leaders were far from their best, with Núñez personifying their frustration, being subbed off for Cody Gakpo after another unproductive showing in front of goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold almost got a second late on but his fine free-kick was turned away by Gazzaniga, and any bigger defeat would have been harsh on Girona.
Celtic held in Zagreb
Celtic could be left ruing a missed opportunity after drawing 0-0 with Dinamo Zagreb in a game of low quality and few chances, which continued their long winless away run in the Champions League.
Despite dominating the ball for much of the first half, Celtic struggled to do much against a determined Zagreb side, who posed little threat themselves.
The second half saw the Hoops look to make the breakthrough, but the Croatian champions’ low block was giving little away, Nicolas Kuhn’s deflected effort being the closest they came to an opener.
Their best passage play saw Arne Engels slip the ball in for Kuhn, who then found Anthony Ralston out wide. The full-back’s attempted cross was desperately disappointing, and symbolic of Celtic’s final ball throughout the night.
Kasper Schmeichel ensured they stayed level, doing brilliantly tip over one of Zagreb’s few chances.
Celtic almost nicked the win at the death. James Forrest played a great ball down the line for Engels, whose low ball was about to be tapped home by Adam Idah before a Zagreb defender brilliantly cleared it.
In truth, a draw was fair with neither side doing enough to secure the win.
📸 MARCO BERTORELLO – AFP or licensors