In a similar fashion to UCL 2024-25 Matchday 1, Matchday 2 witnessed multiple upsets. Let us take a look at what went down in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League.
As the UEFA Champions League enters its second matchday under the new league format, the excitement surrounding the tournament has reached a fever pitch. The initial round of fixtures showcased a blend of thrilling comebacks, tactical masterclasses, and unexpected upsets. With the expanded league phase, every match carries even greater weight, as teams battle to secure their place in the knockout stages. Let us take a look at what went down.
Table of Content
- Dortmund vs Celtic
- FC Barcelona vs Young Boys
- Bayer Leverkusen vs AC Milan
- Arsenal vs Paris St Germain
- Benfica vs Atletico Madrid
- RB Leipzig vs Juventus
- Lillie OSC vs Real Madrid
- Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich
- Other Results
Dortmund Thrashes Celtic
In UCL 2024-25, Borussia Dortmund showcased their dominance with a resounding 7-1 victory over Celtic. The Black & Yellows were relentless from the start, scoring five goals in the first half alone. Emre Can opened the scoring with a penalty, followed by goals from Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi. Despite Daizen Maeda’s goal for Celtic, Dortmund’s attacking prowess was simply too much to handle.
The second half saw Dortmund continue their dominance, with Guirassy and Nmecha adding two more goals to their tally. Celtic’s defense was overwhelmed by Dortmund’s attacking force, and the final score of 7-1 reflected the clear difference in quality between the two teams.
FC Barcelona Cruise Past Young Boys With Ease
Barcelona showcased their attacking prowess in a resounding 5-0 victory over Young Boys in the UCL. Robert Lewandowski led the charge with a brace, while Raphinha, Inigo Martinez, and Mohamed Camara (own goal) also contributed to the goal tally. The Catalan giants dominated possession and created numerous scoring chances throughout the match, ultimately overwhelming their opponents.
Despite some defensive lapses, Barcelona’s attacking quality proved too much for Young Boys to handle. The victory solidifies Barcelona’s position in the Champions League and sets them up for a strong campaign.
Leverkusen Overcome Milan Challenge
Bayer Leverkusen secured a crucial 1-0 victory over AC Milan in their UCL match. The only goal of the match came from Victor Boniface, who capitalized on a rebound in the second half. Leverkusen dominated possession in the first half but struggled to break through Milan’s resolute defense.
Milan had several opportunities to equalize in the second half but failed to convert their chances. Leverkusen’s defensive resilience and Boniface’s decisive finish proved to be the difference in the match. The victory gives Leverkusen a perfect start to their UCL 2024-25 campaign, while Milan faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages, after facing two consecutive losses.
Arsenal Edge Past Paris SG
Arsenal secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in their UCL clash, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. The Gunners dominated the first half, with Havertz heading in a brilliant pass from Leandro Trossard. Saka added a second goal with a free-kick that evaded everyone and found the net.
PSG improved in the second half but couldn’t break down Arsenal’s resolute defense. The victory moves Arsenal to four points in the Champions League and puts them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.
Benfica Asserts Dominance Over Atleti
Benfica showcased their attacking prowess in a resounding 4-0 victory over Atlético Madrid in the UCL 2024-25. Kerem Akturkoglu, Angel Di Maria, Alexander Bah, and Orkun Kokcu scored for Benfica, who controlled the match from start to finish. Atlético’s defensive errors and Benfica’s attacking prowess proved to be the difference in the match.
Juventus Emerges Victorious Out Of A Five-Goal Thriller
In a thrilling UCL 2024-25 encounter, Juventus staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Leipzig 3-2. Despite falling behind early and playing with a man down for most of the second half, Juventus’ determination and resilience proved to be the difference. Vlahovic’s goals and Conceicao’s stunning strike secured the victory for Juventus, who showed incredible character to overcome adversity.
Leipzig dominated the early stages of the match, taking the lead through Sesko’s goal. However, Juventus responded with a strong performance, equalizing through Vlahovic and ultimately securing the victory with Conceicao’s late strike. Juventus’ defensive efforts, particularly from Kalulu and McKennie, were crucial in holding off Leipzig’s attacks and preserving the lead.
Lille OSC Stuns Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s winning streak came to an abrupt end as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lille. Jonathan David’s penalty goal proved to be the difference in the match, securing Lille’s first victory of the season. Real Madrid struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game, with Endrick and Jude Bellingham unable to make a significant impact.
Despite a late rally from Real Madrid, Lille’s defense held firm, preserving their lead and securing the victory. The defeat marks a significant setback for Real Madrid, who will now need to regroup and focus on their upcoming matches.
Aston Villa Shocks Bayern Munich In Villa Park
Aston Villa secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the UCL, thanks to a goal from Jhon Durran. Despite facing a dominant Bayern side, Villa defended stoutly and capitalized on their opportunities.
Villa’s defense, led by Pau Torres and Diego Carlos, frustrated Bayern’s attacking players throughout the match. Martinez made several crucial saves, denying Bayern’s chances to score. Durran’s goal, a well-executed finish from close range, proved to be the difference in the match. Villa’s victory is a major upset and sends a message to the rest of Europe.
Other Results
- RB Salzburg 0:4 Brest
- VfB Stuttgart 1:1 Sparta Praha
- PSV Eindhoven 1:1 Sporting CP
- Slovan Bratislava 0:4 Manchester City
- Inter Milan 4:0 Crvena Zvezda
- Shakhtar Donetsk 0:3 Atalanta
- Girona 2:3 Feyenoord
- Liverpool 2:0 Bologna
- SK Sturm Graz 0:1 Club Brugge
- Dinamo Zagreb 2:2 Monaco
