From Monday, September 30 to Wednesday, October 3, the second matchday of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League showcased many of Europe’s elite squads. After two games, seven teams sit at the summit of the standings with 6 points, with Borussia Dortmund leading due to goal difference.
This round proved particularly favorable for English Premier League clubs, as Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool all secured significant victories. One of the most notable upsets of Matchday 2 was Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat on the road against French side LOSC. The reigning champions now hold a 1-1 record and will likely need to work hard to catch up for the remainder of the season.
Here, we dive into some of the key highlights and outcomes from Matchday 2.
On Tuesday night, Arsenal secured a pivotal 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium, marking their first triumph of the new Champions League campaign. This victory comes after a goalless draw against Atalanta in their opening match, which had set a hesitant tone for their start.
Arsenal took the lead in the first half when Kai Havertz navigated between two defenders to connect with a Leandro Trossard cross, heading it in for the opening goal. Bukayo Saka then netted the second with a near-post shot that threaded through defenders to beat Donnarumma. Saka has now contributed to eight goals in six home Champions League appearances for Arsenal (scoring five and assisting three), with all his goals being scored at the Emirates Stadium.
Next, Arsenal will face Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on October 22nd in their Champions League run. Meanwhile, PSG will aim to bounce back in their next match against PSV.
Borussia Dortmund Crushes Celtic in Dominant 7-1 Victory
Celtic’s impressive unbeaten streak this season suddenly ended as they were overpowered by Borussia Dortmund, who secured a commanding 7-1 win on Tuesday. Despite Daizen Maeda’s effort to level the score after Emre Can’s early penalty, the Scottish champions were unable to prevent the onslaught of goals from the German side.
Karim Adeyemi achieved a stunning hat-trick in the first half alone, while Serhou Guirassy brilliantly netted a free-kick, helping the hosts to a significant 5-1 lead by halftime. Guirassy struck once more after the interval, and Felix Nmecha added a late goal to seal the emphatic win in Germany.
This triumph places Dortmund at the summit of the standings due to their superior goal difference. However, the real challenge awaits next week as they face Real Madrid, in a rematch of last season’s final. Meanwhile, Celtic must quickly move past this heavy defeat and focus on their upcoming clash with Italy’s Atalanta in a fortnight.
Man City Easily Overcomes Slovan Bratislava with 4-0 Triumph
Manchester City showcased their dominance with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava, marking their first win of the Champions League campaign. Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match, followed by Phil Foden, who was making a return to the lineup, adding a second goal.
Erling Haaland continued his scoring streak with another goal after the break, and James McAtee put the finishing touch with the fourth goal. Overall, Man City recorded an impressive 28 shots on goal and controlled possession with 76.3 percent.
Manchester City’s next challenge will be against the Czech team Sparta Praha on October 23rd.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKLearn More
