In the second round of the UEFA Champions League, Premier League teams delivered an impressive performance, securing two wins and one draw across three matches.
Arsenal Defeat Olympiacos at Home
At the Emirates Stadium in London, Arsenal continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory over Greek side Olympiacos. In the 13th minute, Zeki Çelik’s strike hit the post, but Martinelli reacted quickly and scored from close range to give the Gunners the lead.
Both sides battled for control thereafter, but the scoreline remained unchanged until the second minute of stoppage time when Ødegaard provided a precise through ball for Saka, who calmly slotted home to seal the win.
With this result, Arsenal have now achieved back-to-back victories at the start of a Champions League campaign for the first time since the 2013/14 season.
Newcastle Claim Historic 4-0 Away Victory
Elsewhere, Newcastle United produced a commanding performance on the road, thrashing Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 to record their biggest-ever win in the Champions League. It was also their first victory in this season’s campaign.
Woltamad opened the scoring in the 17th minute, before Anthony Gordon stole the spotlight with a brace in the 43rd and 64th minutes. Barnes added a fourth in the 80th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Remarkably, despite struggling at the start of the Premier League season with just one win from six matches, this emphatic Champions League triumph has undoubtedly given Newcastle a huge confidence boost.
Man City Held to Late Equaliser Despite Haaland Brace
Defending champions Manchester City faced a tough battle away to Monaco. Erling Haaland gave City the lead in the 15th minute with a deft finish from Gvardiol’s pass, and then doubled his tally with a powerful header just before half-time.
Haaland has now scored 10 goals in his last eight matches, reaching 50 career goals in the Champions League. He equals Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the all-time scoring chart, tied for 10th place, and is second only to Lionel Messi’s 59 goals before the age of 26.
However, City were unable to hold onto their lead, as Monaco converted a stoppage-time penalty to level the match 2-2.
Strong Showing from Premier League Sides
Overall, Premier League clubs delivered commendable performances in Matchday 2 of the Champions League. Arsenal and Newcastle both claimed vital wins, while Manchester City were held to a frustrating draw.
As the group stage continues, whether these three English sides can maintain their momentum will remain a major storyline in this season’s competition.
