Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain delivered two of the standout performances on a memorable night of UEFA Champions League action, with goals flowing across Europe.
The dramatic comeback by Real Madrid against Roma and Paris Saint-Germain’s impressive victory over Manchester City headlined a record-breaking evening in the competition.
Matchday 2 produced 78 goals in total, with 46 scored on Wednesday alone. Six of the nine fixtures played that evening featured at least five goals, including Liverpool’s 6-3 victory over LASK, PSG’s 4-2 win against Manchester City and Real Madrid’s thrilling 4-3 triumph over Roma.
Here is a roundup of the night’s action.
Roma 3-4 Real Madrid
Real Madrid produced a stunning late comeback to defeat Roma, scoring three times in the final eight minutes to snatch victory.
After Marten de Roon opened the scoring, Kylian Mbappé equalised for Madrid in his 100th Champions League appearance.
Donyell Malen then struck twice early in the second half to put the hosts in a commanding position, leaving Madrid with a mountain to climb.
Carlos Espí reignited Madrid’s hopes with a close-range finish after goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini failed to hold Endrick’s header. The Brazilian then scored with a header from a corner before former Roma defender Antonio Rüdiger completed the turnaround, finishing from another Arda Güler set-piece delivery.
Player of the Match: Endrick (Real Madrid)
Manchester City 2-4 Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain maintained their perfect start with an entertaining victory over Manchester City away from home.
PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov pushed Enzo Fernández’s corner against the crossbar before Désiré Doué opened the scoring. Ousmane Dembélé extended the visitors’ advantage, while Achraf Hakimi struck the post.
Vitinha added a third with a curling effort to give PSG a 3-0 lead at half-time.
Erling Haaland responded after the break, scoring around a powerful finish from Maghnes Akliouche to keep City in the contest.
Safonov subsequently denied Haaland a hat-trick, while Fernández hit the post. Former City forward Ferran Torres also missed a late opportunity from the penalty spot after Gianluigi Donnarumma saved his effort.
Player of the Match: Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
LASK 3-6 Liverpool
Liverpool edged a nine-goal thriller against LASK in Linz, with Bradley Barcola delivering a standout performance by scoring a hat-trick.
Barcola found the net within two minutes of Ronald Araújo’s towering header opening the scoring midway through the first half. Both players celebrated their first goals for Liverpool.
The forward then added his second goal before the break, finishing from Florian Wirtz’s driven pass.
Jeremie Frimpong’s header sparked a flurry of second-half goals. LASK substitute Robert Ljubičić opened the hosts’ Champions League account before Barcola completed his hat-trick. Lewis Koumas also scored for Liverpool, while LASK substitute Florian Flecker struck twice in quick succession.
Player of the Match: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool)
Aston Villa 6-0 Fenerbahçe
Aston Villa recorded the biggest European victory in the club’s history after thrashing Fenerbahçe 6-0.
Johan Manzambi celebrated his 21st birthday with a debut goal, while Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley both scored twice. Tammy Abraham added a late sixth goal.
Manzambi capitalised on a loose clearance following a Villa corner to open the scoring. Jackson then punished two Fenerbahçe turnovers, giving the hosts a comfortable half-time advantage.
Barkley converted a penalty for Villa’s fourth before scoring again five minutes later with a heavily deflected effort.
Substitutes Alysson and Abraham combined to complete the scoring, ensuring Unai Emery’s side secured a second consecutive win.
Player of the Match: Johan Manzambi (Aston Villa)
Feyenoord 3-2 Como
Feyenoord came from behind to claim victory over Como in an entertaining encounter in Rotterdam.
Assane Diao put the Italian side ahead with a well-taken finish, but Feyenoord responded two minutes later through Gjivai Zechiël, who turned neatly before finding the net.
Anis Hadj Moussa then fired the hosts in front shortly after the interval, with his powerful effort deflecting off Como goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and into the net.
Feyenoord extended their advantage late in the match before Como substitute Tasos Douvikas pulled one back in stoppage time. The hosts nevertheless held on to secure all three points.
Player of the Match: Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord)
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 AEK Athens
Shakhtar Donetsk recovered from conceding first to secure their maiden Champions League victory of the season.
Lovro Majer opened the scoring for AEK after receiving a pass from Stavros Pilios, but Pedrinho restored parity from the penalty spot before half-time.
Goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk kept Shakhtar in the contest by denying Pilios and Răzvan Marin.
Vinícius Tobías then put the Ukrainian side ahead with a powerful strike from a tight angle. Substitute Gleiker Mendoza sealed the win after cutting inside from the left and firing a superb finish into the far corner.
Player of the Match: Alisson Santana (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Bodø/Glimt 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Fredrik Sjøvold scored the decisive second-half goal as Bodø/Glimt secured their first-ever victory against German opposition and collected their first points of the campaign.
The Norwegian side threatened through Sondre Brunstad Fet, Jens Petter Hauge and Andreas Helmersen before Sjøvold converted Sondre Auklend’s pass seven minutes into the second half.
Dortmund pushed for an equaliser, with Felix Nmecha coming closest, but goalkeeper Nikita Haikin produced a save to turn his effort wide.
Player of the Match: Fredrik Sjøvold (Bodø/Glimt)
Real Betis 3-2 Porto
Real Betis marked their return to the Champions League in front of their home supporters with a dramatic victory over Porto in a five-goal contest.
Abde Ezzalzouli gave Betis the lead with a superb finish before Gabriel Veiga levelled with a powerful free-kick.
Porto substitute Samu put the visitors ahead within two minutes of coming on, but Betis responded through their own attacking change, Cucho Hernández, who brought the scores level at 2-2.
Isco then converted a penalty to complete Betis’ comeback and secure the victory.
Player of the Match: Isco (Real Betis)
Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Stuttgart
Stuttgart continued their strong start to the league phase with a convincing win over Slovan Bratislava, recording their second victory in as many matches.
Germany international Deniz Undav opened the scoring with a clinical finish from the left side of the penalty area, registering his first goal since the FIFA World Cup.
Suleiman Camara and Sandro Cruz both threatened before Cruz inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Substitute Ermedin Demirović completed the scoring with a header, taking his tally to four goals in two Champions League matches.
Player of the Match: Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart)
