UEFA Champions League
Wednesday night delivered a feast of Champions League football, and the scorelines painted a vivid picture of European football’s current hierarchy — with a few quieter statements made alongside the headline fireworks.
The most eye-catching result came when Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Slovan Bratislava 6-1.
Almost as emphatic was Barcelona's 5-1 demolition of Feyenoord. Barcelona's 5-1 win over Feyenoord came days after a 5-0 victory away at Valencia, making it ten goals scored across those two fixtures without reply from opponents in either game. Feyenoord, who have shown they can compete at this level in recent seasons, will need to regroup quickly after a chastening evening.
VfB Stuttgart continued their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Viking. The German side showed they are no strangers to this stage, controlling the tie to deliver a professional, convincing win that will further boost confidence.
Sporting CP recorded a 3-1 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League. Three goals for the Portuguese outfit against a well-organised opponent suggests Sporting are in fine form and should not be underestimated in the group stage.
Not every match was high-scoring, but the tighter results carried their own weight. Liverpool edged Atlético Madrid 2-1 — a narrow but meaningful victory against one of Europe’s most defensively stubborn sides. Atlético’s team rarely concede two in European competition lightly, making this a result Liverpool’s supporters will savour. The single goal margin keeps the tie competitive on paper, but the home side claimed all three points and the psychological edge that comes with them.
Finally, the most understated result of the evening: Napoli 0-1 Arsenal. Arsenal kept a clean sheet and won 1-0 away at Napoli in the Champions League.