Tuesday’s Champions League group stage action saw a mix of expected results and important upsets, reshaping the landscape of the competition as teams battle for qualification to the knockout rounds. Chelsea delivered a commanding performance against Barcelona, while Manchester City suffered a surprising defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Elsewhere, Napoli and Slavia Prague also featured in compelling contests, with several key storylines developing across the continent.
Chelsea delivered a dominant performance Tuesday, defeating Barcelona 3-0 in a Champions League Group Stage clash. The victory was sealed despite Barcelona playing the entire second half with ten men after Ronald Araujo’s ejection.
Manchester City suffered their first defeat in the group stage, falling 2-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen, with Czech Republic international Patrik Schick among the scorers.
Napoli, featuring Slovakian midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, secured their second win of the competition, overcoming Karabakh 2-0. Slavia Prague earned a point in a 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao.
Chelsea Controls Key Matchup
Table of Contents
- Chelsea Controls Key Matchup
- Schick Stuns Manchester with Header
- Lobotka Leads Napoli to Victory
- Slavia Prague Held to Draw
- FC Chelsea – FC Barcelona 3:0 (1:0)
- SSC Napoli – FK Karabakh 2:0 (0:0)
- Slavia Prague – Athletic Bilbao 0:0 (0:0)
- Manchester City – Bayer Leverkusen 0:2 (0:1)
- Borussia Dortmund – FC Villarreal 4:0 (1:0)
- Olympique Marseille – Newcastle United 2:1 (0:1)
- Bodö/Glimt – Juventus Turin 2:3 (1:0)
The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was electric from the fourth minute, but an early goal from Enzo Fernandez was disallowed due to a handball by Wesley Fofanu. Barcelona nearly responded, but Ferran Torres missed a clear opportunity, failing to hit the target.
Fernandez again thought he’d scored in the 23rd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Chelsea finally broke the deadlock four minutes later when a cross from Marc Cucurella deflected off Barcelona’s Jules Kounde for an own goal.
Barcelona’s woes deepened just before halftime when Ronald Araujo received his second yellow card for a hard tackle on Cucurella and was sent off.
VIDEO: Araujo’s Red Card for Barcelona
After the break, Chelsea continued to press, with Andrey Santos’ shot saved by Joan Garcia, but a third Chelsea goal was ruled out for offside against Alejandro Garnacha.
The London side finally extended their lead in the 55th minute as Estevao drove forward on the right wing and unleashed a powerful shot under the crossbar to make it 2-0. Chelsea continued to dominate, with Garcia denying another Pedro Neto chance. Liam Delap added a third goal in the 72nd minute to seal the victory.
The goal was initially flagged for offside, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review. With 10 points, Chelsea moves into fourth place in the group, while Barcelona sits mid-table with 7 points and faces a tough battle for direct qualification to the knockout stage.
Schick Stuns Manchester with Header
A surprise result unfolded at Etihad Stadium as Manchester City lost 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen. Alejandro Grimaldo put the visitors ahead in the 23rd minute, and Patrik Schick doubled the lead in the 54th minute with a well-placed header.
VIDEO: Patrik Schick’s Goal Against Manchester City
Another German side, Borussia Dortmund, also secured a convincing win, defeating Villarreal 4-0. Serhou Guirassy scored twice for Dortmund. Villarreal played with ten men from the 53rd minute after Juan Foyth was sent off.
Lobotka Leads Napoli to Victory
Napoli controlled the game against Karabakh from the start, but struggled to convert their chances. David Neres’ overhead kick and a Giovanni Di Lorenzo opportunity both went begging in the first half.
Rasmus Höjlund missed a penalty after the break, keeping the score level.
The Italian champions finally found the breakthrough in the 66th minute when Scott McTominay scored from a corner. The Scottish midfielder was also involved in Napoli’s second goal, as his shot was deflected into the net by Marko Jankovic.
Stanislav Lobotka played the full 90 minutes for Napoli.
Slavia Prague Held to Draw
Slavia Prague secured their third draw of the competition, playing to a 0-0 stalemate at home against Athletic Bilbao.
Slovakian forward Erik Prekop was an unused substitute, while fellow countryman Ivan Schranz was absent due to injury.
The Czech champions are still searching for their first win in the group stage, extending their winless run in the competition to 16 matches.
Last season’s Europa League semifinalists came close to winning, but Slavia goalkeeper Henrich Staněk made several crucial saves to deny Athletic Bilbao.
VIDEO: Goalkeeper Saves for Slavia Prague
Slavia has failed to score in four consecutive Champions League matches, only finding the net in their opening match against Bodö/Glimt in September.
Another Premier League team faltered, as Newcastle lost 2-1 at Olympique Marseille.
“The Magpies” took the lead in the 6th minute through Harvey Barnes, but the hosts rallied after halftime with two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Juventus Turin won 3-2 at Bodö/Glimt, with Jonathan David scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.
Champions League – Round 5 Results:
FC Chelsea – FC Barcelona 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: 27. Kounde (own goal), 55. Estevao, 73. Delap; Red Card: 44. Araujo (Barcelona)
SSC Napoli – FK Karabakh 2:0 (0:0)
Goals: 66. McTominay, 72. Jankovic (own goal)
/S. Lobotka (Napoli) played the full match/
Slavia Prague – Athletic Bilbao 0:0 (0:0)
/E. Prekop (Slavia) on the bench/
Manchester City – Bayer Leverkusen 0:2 (0:1)
Goals: 23. Grimaldo, 54. Schick
Borussia Dortmund – FC Villarreal 4:0 (1:0)
Goals: 45.+2 and 55. Guirassy, 58. Adeyemi, 90.+5 Svensson; Red Card: 53. Foyth (Villarreal)
Olympique Marseille – Newcastle United 2:1 (0:1)
Goals: 46. and 50. Aubameyang – 6. Barnes
Bodö/Glimt – Juventus Turin 2:3 (1:0)
Goals: 27. Blomberg, 87. Fet (pen.) – 48. Openda, 59. McKennie, 90.+1. J. David
