The UEFA Champions League opening round concluded with six thrilling matches on day three, as the action gets even more exciting.
Benfica kicked off the action with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Crvena Zvezda, securing a crucial three points in their group.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen made a statement with a resounding 4-0 win over Eredivisie side Feyenoord. Star midfielder Florian Wirtz stole the show with a brace, supported by Alex Grimaldo’s goal and an own goal.
The highly anticipated showdown between Arsenal and last year’s Europa League winners, Atalanta, failed to live up to its billing, ending in a goalless stalemate. The Italian hosts squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead when 25-year-old Mateo Retegui missed a first-half penalty.
In Madrid, Atletico staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 1-0 deficit to defeat Leipzig 2-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Elsewhere, Brest made history with a 2-1 victory over Sturm Graz in their inaugural Champions League match.
Monaco shock 10-man Barcelona in Champions League upset
The Champions League night’s most eventful encounter took place in Monaco, where Barcelona suffered a 2-1 loss. Eric Garcia’s early dismissal, after just 13 minutes, left Hansi Flick’s side to battle with 10 men for over 75 minutes.
Monaco capitalized on the advantage, taking the lead through midfielder Maghnes Akliouche. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal temporarily equalized for Barcelona, but Nigeria-eligible star George Ilenikhena sealed the win for Monaco with a 71st-minute strike.
