5️⃣ things we learned from Tuesday’s Champions League action

On By Littum

The Champions League returned to our screens again on Tuesday with nine matches during the evening.

Atlético beat Sparta Prague before Arsenal and Atalanta both came on the field, with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan also on course for three points.

Here are five things we learned from tonight’s action.

Arsenal have got their mojo back

Sporting may have lost their manager during the international break and now their unbeaten run has also ended as Arsenal slipped past the Lisbon side.

After beating Manchester City 5-1, a tough test was expected in Portugal, but Arsenal were 3-0 up at half-time and, despite an early Sporting goal in the second, the Gunners ran out impressive 5-1- winners.

For Arsenal, the return of Martin Ødegaard seems to have revitalized their squad and with him in the side, they have returned to being one of the best teams in Europe.

Manchester City continue to struggle

Manchester City’s run of five successive defeats had raised questions about Pep Guardiola’s side, but they looked to get back on track against Feyenoord.

Until they didn’t.

Goals either side of the half helped them to an early 3-0 lead against the Dutch side, but three goals in the final 15 minutes saw Feyenoord equalize and shock the Premier League champions.

It is now six games without a win in the process.

With Liverpool next up for Guardiola’s side, how long will this poor run of form continue?

Are Atalanta the competition’s dark horses?

A point off the top of Serie A and unbeaten in their five Champions League games to date, last season’s Europa League champions are a team in form.

They continued in that vein against Young Boys as they put five past the Swiss side to move them up to fifth in the league table.

A star talent helped them do it in Charles De Ketelaere. The Belgian was involved in all of his side’s first five goals.

With just three defeats all season, could Gasperini’s side be the dark horses in this year’s competition?

Robert Lewandowski is Champions League royalty

Robert Lewandowski has been at the top of his game for over a decade now and has finally written his name into Champions League royalty.

The Poland international scored a first-half penalty against Brest to bring up his 100th of the competition, trailing only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the all-time list.

He later added a second in stoppage time for good measure.

With 22 goals in all competitions already this season, it threatens to become another record for the veteran. He currently leads the Champions League scoring charts.

PSG on the ropes

Kylian Mbappé’s PSG exit was always going to cause problems, but Luis Enrique’s side hoped the impact would be far less severe than this.

FRANCK FIFE – AFP or licensors

A 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich, their third of the Champions League campaign, means they are likely to need to win at least two of their last three games to have any chance of progressing to the last 24 of the competition.

In that time they face Salzburg, Monaco and Manchester City. While not yet out of contention, they are far behind the early pacesetters and need to get their act together. Fast.

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