The opening night of UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 brought high-stakes drama, with Sporting CP, AC Milan, and Liverpool delivering unforgettable performances.
Viktor Gyökeres’ stellar hat-trick anchored Sporting’s historic win over Manchester City, Milan triumphed over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, and Liverpool showcased yet another dominant display. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each intense match, showcasing pivotal moments, standout players, and game-changing plays.
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Champions League 2024-25 Matchday 4 Round-up
Sporting CP Stuns Manchester City with Gyökeres’ Hat-Trick
Sporting CP delivered the most surprising result of the night, dominating Manchester City 4-1. Viktor Gyökeres stole the show with a stunning hat-trick, bringing an end to City’s 27-match unbeaten Champions League streak. The evening began with City taking an early lead through Phil Foden, whose precise finish gave the English side hope of extending their formidable run.
However, Sporting’s response was swift. Gyökeres equalized shortly after Foden’s strike, connecting with Geovany Quenda’s pass to bring Sporting back into the game. Early in the second half, Sporting capitalized on their momentum, taking the lead with a brilliant team effort concluded by Maximiliano Araújo. Gyökeres then converted a penalty to widen the gap, leaving City scrambling for a comeback. Erling Haaland’s missed penalty only compounded City’s frustration, and Gyökeres sealed the win with a second penalty, making it a memorable farewell home game for Sporting’s outgoing manager, Rúben Amorim.
Player of the Match: Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP)
Milan Claims Historic Victory Against Real Madrid
In another jaw-dropping result, AC Milan triumphed over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, marking their first win against the Spanish giants in 15 years. The Italian side took the lead in the first half as Malick Thiaw powered a header into the net from a corner. Real Madrid responded with a penalty converted by Vinícius Júnior, temporarily leveling the scoreline.
Milan soon regained control, with Álvaro Morata pouncing on a loose ball after Andriy Lunin blocked a Rafael Leão attempt, giving Milan a 2-1 lead before halftime. As Madrid pressed forward in search of an equalizer, Milan launched a swift counterattack in the closing stages, with Leão assisting Tijjani Reijnders for the decisive third goal, sealing a historic 3-1 win for the Rossoneri
Player of the Match: Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Liverpool’s Flawless Run Continues with Leverkusen Rout
Liverpool continued their impressive Champions League form, dismantling Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at Anfield. The Merseyside club maintained its perfect record with Luis Díaz starring with a second-half hat-trick. Colombian forward Díaz broke the deadlock with a skillful opener before Cody Gakpo doubled the lead, converting a header moments later.
Díaz added two more goals to his tally, one set up by Mohamed Salah and the other a personal effort to take home the match ball, while Darwin Núñez also made his presence felt by causing chaos in the Leverkusen defense. Xabi Alonso, a Liverpool legend and current Leverkusen manager, watched his side succumb to Liverpool’s intensity in what was their first Champions League away loss in 18 months.
Player of the Match: Luis Díaz (Liverpool)
PSV Eindhoven’s Dominant Display Against Girona
PSV Eindhoven claimed their first league phase victory with a resounding 4-0 win over Girona. Goalkeeper Walter Benítez’s early saves kept PSV in the game, and soon after, Ryan Flamingo’s acrobatic goal from a Malik Tillman throw-in set the tone.
Tillman followed up with a brilliant solo run and finish to extend the lead, and Girona’s Arnau Martínez was sent off early in the second half, diminishing their chances of a comeback. Johan Bakayoko and an own goal by Ladislav Krejčí added to PSV’s tally, ensuring a memorable night in Eindhoven.
Player of the Match (PSV): Malik Tillman
GNK Dinamo Crushes Slovan Bratislava Away from Home
GNK Dinamo clinched an impressive 4-1 away win over Slovan Bratislava, inspired by a brace from Sandro Kulenović. Slovan took an early lead through David Strelec, but Dinamo quickly responded with Dario Špikić’s equalizer.
Petar Sučić’s header put Dinamo ahead, and Kulenović added two more goals, one from a precise delivery by Marko Pjaca and the other a long-range effort, sealing a comfortable victory for the visitors. Slovan Bratislava struggled to keep pace, as Dinamo continued their winning streak in the league phase.
Player of the Match (GNK Dinamo): Sandro Kulenović
Monaco’s Narrow Win Over Bologna
Monaco maintained their impressive form with a 1-0 victory against Bologna, thanks to a late goal from captain Thilo Kehrer. Although Bologna’s defense held firm for most of the match, Kehrer capitalized on a corner kick, securing Monaco’s third win in four matches.
The Italian side fought hard, with keeper Łukasz Skorupski delivering a string of impressive saves, but Kehrer’s persistence ultimately won out, reinforcing Monaco’s strong league-phase performance.
Player of the Match (Monaco): Thilo Kehrer
Dortmund Sinks Sturm Graz with Malen’s Late Goal
Borussia Dortmund faced a tense battle with Sturm Graz, ultimately prevailing 1-0 thanks to Donyell Malen’s late goal. Dortmund dominated possession, with Kjell Scherpen making crucial saves to deny Pascal Gross and Maximilian Beier.
Despite Sturm’s strong defensive stand, Malen found the breakthrough in the dying minutes, scoring from close range to hand Dortmund all three points. Sturm Graz remain winless, while Dortmund keep their hopes alive in the group.
Player of the Match (Dortmund): Malick Yalcouye
Celtic Outplays Leipzig with Kühn’s Double Strike
Celtic delivered an inspired 3-1 victory over Leipzig, led by Nicolas Kühn, who scored twice against his former team. Leipzig initially took the lead through Christoph Baumgartner, but Kühn swiftly equalized with a superb strike and added a second goal before halftime.
Celebrating Celtic’s 350th goal in the Champions League, Kühn’s goals highlighted his attacking prowess. Reo Hatate’s goal added to Celtic’s lead, and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, on his 38th birthday, ensured Celtic stayed unbeaten at home.
Player of the Match (Celtic): Nicolas Kühn
Lille and Juventus Share Points in Tense Draw
Lille and Juventus ended their clash in a 1-1 draw, with both teams showcasing resilience. Jonathan David opened the scoring for Lille with a swift shot past Juventus keeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Juventus fought back, equalizing with Dušan Vlahović’s penalty after Francisco Conceição was fouled. Ayyoub Bouaddi’s skillful performance for Lille was pivotal, as both teams concluded the game with identical points.
Player of the Match: Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille)
With Wednesday night’s lineup set to continue the excitement, the UEFA Champions League action isn’t slowing down. Fans can look forward to some high-stakes clashes, including Club Brugge vs Aston Villa and Shakhtar Donetsk vs Young Boys in the early kickoffs, both starting at 18:45. The night will also feature powerhouse matchups like Bayern München vs Benfica and Inter vs Arsenal, which promise intensity and skill on both sides.
Elsewhere, Feyenoord hosts Salzburg in a must-win fixture for both teams, while Crvena Zvezda welcomes Barcelona as the Catalan giants aim to secure their place in the next round. Adding to the drama, Paris Saint-Germain face Atlético de Madrid in a clash of European heavyweights, while Stuttgart takes on Atalanta to cap off the night. These matches are sure to bring plenty of drama and potentially shake up the group standings even further. As the Champions League heats up, every point counts in the race for qualification.
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How did Sporting CP stun Man City?
Gyökeres’ hat-trick overturned City’s lead for a 4-1 victory.
What was Liverpool’s standout moment?
Luis Díaz’s hat-trick kept their perfect Champions League record.
How did Milan beat Real Madrid?
A 3-1 win with goals from Thiaw, Morata, and Reijnders.
What big UCL matches are next?
Bayern vs Benfica, Inter vs Arsenal, and PSG vs Atlético on Wednesday.
