Key events
Full time scores
GOAL! Porto 4-1 Napoli (Aghehowam 90+1)
GOAL! Slavia Prague 1-2 Arsenal (Nowak, 90+1)
GOAL! Porto 3-1 Napoli (Kiwior, 80)
GOAL! RB Leipzig 2-3 Manchester City (Haaland, 78)
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Betis (Karetsas, 72)
GOAL! Porto 2-1 Napoli (Veiga, 73)
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Real Betis (Ruibal, 67)
GOAL! PSV 1-2 Club Brugge (Forbs, 65)
GOAL! RB Leipzig 2-2 Manchester City (Nusa, 61)
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-2 Manchester City (Fernández, 58)
GOAL! PSV 1-1 Club Brugge (Sano, 54)
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Real Betis (Silva, 49)
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City (Baku, 49)
Half-time scores
GOAL! Porto 1-1 Napoli (McTominay, 43)
GOAL! RB Leipzig 0-1 Manchester City (Lukeba OG, 37)
GOAL! Slavia Prague 0-2 Arsenal (Gyökeres, 38)
GOAL! PSV 0-1 Club Brugge (Tresoldi, 25)
GOAL! Porto 1-0 Napoli (Bednarek, 11)
GOAL! Slavia Prague 0-1 Arsenal (Madueke, 9)
GOAL! Lens 0-1 Como (Douvikas, 7)
KICK OFF
Full-time scores in earlier games
Team news from selected games
Preamble
It’s not often a ding-dong 3-2 win for Manchester City against one of the Bundesliga big hitters in the Champions League gets overshadowed, but that Como result ought to attract the attention of headline writers everywhere.
The other story tonight is a narrow win for Arsenal over Slavia Prague, when many expected Mikel Arteta’s side to run in a few goals. The Gunners boss will argue the three points are all that matter, especially after a tough assignment at Anfield last weekend.
Full time scores
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Betis
Lens 1-9 Como
PSV 1-2 Club Brugge
Porto 4-1 Napoli
RB Leipzig 2-3 Manchester City
Slavia Prague 1-2 Arsenal
Viking 4-1 Sabah
That Como result will grab the headlines, and rightly so,
Como have made history tonight, that’s for sure.
Teenager Matteo Papaccioli makes it NINE goals for Como. It’s 9-1 in Lens. Utterly ridiculous.
And it’s 4-1 to Viking against Sabah after a comedy of defensive errors from the team from Azerbaijan.
Dortmund are clinging on a tad against Real Betis, but a win would cap a very good week for the Black and Yellows, after they secured a creditable draw away at Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker.
Dortmund are joint top in the Bundesliga and will move onto nine points in the Champions League group stage if they see this one through.
GOAL! Porto 4-1 Napoli (Aghehowam 90+1)
Samu Aghehowa slots home a penalty to crown a very good night for Porto, with Spanish defender Rafa Marín sent off for the foul that conceding the spot-kick.
Porto have their first Champions League win of the campaign and will join Napoli on three points after four games. Will Max Allegri soon be under pressure, given Napoli’s underwhelming start to the season?
GOAL! Slavia Prague 1-2 Arsenal (Nowak, 90+1)
David Raya had made a couple of good saves to keep Slavia at bay, but he’s helpless to prevent his one, as Arsenal concede a sloppy goal that stemmed from a long throw in. Wiktor Nowak profits, shooting into an empty net … although VAR are checking it.
It stands. A nervy finish awaits for the Gunners.
Around five minutes still to play in these games. We’ve had so many goals, will we be blessed by even more in added time?
Can Leipzig haul themselves off the proverbial canvas for one last haymaker in the direction of Manchester City? The scoreline tonight is harsh on the Bundesliga outfit, City have been wobbling at times, but the visitors have been clinical when presented with chances.
I wouldn’t bet against another goal, either way, in this game.
It’s now 3-1 Viking against the 10 men of Sabah – and it’s a good night for Norwegians across the board. Henrik Falchener has netted for Viking, after Haaland and Nusa struck in the Leipzig v City game.
Como are still 8-1 up against Lens, by the way. They’ve clearly taken their foot off the gas. Poor really.
GOAL! Porto 3-1 Napoli (Kiwior, 80)
Is that the game signed, sealed and delivered for Porto?
Napoli have been vulnerable from set-pieces, and it’s ex-Arsenal man Jakub Kiwior who punishes the Italian side here, a good header from Hwang In-Beom’s cross.
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but Elliot Anderson is just a wonderful midfield player you know. Worth every penny of that £116m fee.
GOAL! RB Leipzig 2-3 Manchester City (Haaland, 78)
Superb football from Manchester City, with a flowing move capped by Erling Haaland, who slides in at the back post to convert Elliot Anderson’s fine cross.
It was an awesome driving run from the England midfielder to set it all up. Haaland, formerly of the Red Bull stable, has hit Leipzig where it hurts.
Sabah are now down to 10 men against Viking, against whom they trail 2-1, despite taking the lead. A win here would take the Norwegians to four points from four games, which would be a fair effort.
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Betis (Karetsas, 72)
Oh that’s an error from the Betis keeper I’m afraid. Álvaro Valles will feel he should have saved that shot from Dortmund substitute Karetsas – not that the Yellow Wall will care as BVB celebrate restoring their lead.
Can they hold onto it? Betis were good value for the draw, and I’d expect them to come again.
I feel like the Como nonsense is distracting from the serious business of the other games, many of which are still on a knife-edge going into the final stages.
Leipzig and City are locked at 2-2, and that’s one to really keep an eye on.
Como have scored an eighth goal, would you believe. Baturina joins the fun. This is getting ridiculously out of hand, actually. Lens 1-8 (EIGHT) Como.
GOAL! Porto 2-1 Napoli (Veiga, 73)
Gabri Veiga scores for Porto. Could the Portuguese side be heading for their first win of the group stage? That one means a heck of a lot.
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Real Betis (Ruibal, 67)
A big goal for Betis in the Westfalenstadion! Aitor Ruibal hasn’t been on the pitch for very long but he’s levelled things up for the Spanish outfit, who continue to impress in the Champions League this season.
That Lens goal v Como:
(For Oscar, see Ruben Aguilar)
Lens have scored! Sound the alarm! It’s 7-1 now.
And in the Viking v Sabah game, the Norwegian side have taken the lead to make it 2-1, with Zlatko Tripic scoring the rebound after his initial penalty was saved.
GOAL! PSV 1-2 Club Brugge (Forbs, 65)
Brugge are back in front against PSV – another team to quickly respond to losing their lead. Carlos Forbs, formerly of Wolves, has got the goal this time.
Liverpool and Real Madrid’s 8-0 victories over Beşiktaş and Malmö respectively stand as the Champions League’s biggest winning margins. Both records now could be in danger.
7-0 to Como. Although this one will be checked for offside. Fabregas has taken some big players off but the substitute Mattia Liberali, 19, has scored … and yes it will count. There’s still 27 minutes plus added time remaining in this game. Surely you now head for the exit if you’re a Lens fan?
Antonio Nusa is some footballer, by the way. If you’re looking for your next major import to the Premier League from the Leipzig talent factory – a la Benjamin Sesko, Josko Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai, Christopher Nkunku et al – the Norwegian winger is a very solid bet.
GOAL! RB Leipzig 2-2 Manchester City (Nusa, 61)
What a game this is! City’s lead does not last long this time as Leipzig work it to Antonio Nusa on the left side of the box, and he does not disappoint with a low left-footed finish.
Enzo Maresca’s side look suddenly porous at the back and Leipzig have what they deserve … again.
6-0 to Como. I can’t keep up. Douvikas completes his hat-trick, and takes his UCL season’s tally to six in the process. This could be a cricket score. It’s already a tennis score.
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-2 Manchester City (Fernández, 58)
City have restored their lead in no time! Ndiaye teases home a superb cross that was begging to be met … and Enzo Fernández is the man! He powers home a clinical headed finish.
Honestly, Como are making a mockery of this competition – or maybe just of Lens. It’s now 5-0 to Fabregas’s fantastic team, Marc-Oliver Kempf getting in on the act. A classic case of getting in on the act, actually.
GOAL! PSV 1-1 Club Brugge (Sano, 54)
This has been another really enjoyable game, from the bits I’ve seen, and PSV have found a fortunate equaliser via Japanese international midfielder Kodai Sano. He squeezed home after an almighty deflection.
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Real Betis (Silva, 49)
After a watchable but goalless first half, the breakthrough at Signal Iduna Park arrives for the home side, with Fabio Silva scoring a poacher’s goal after Jobe Bellingham’s shot was blocked in the box.
Real Betis’s perfect Champions League record this season is now at serious risk. As it stands, only PSG and Real Madrid will have four wins under their belts.
This is probably a case of speaking way too soon, but it’s been refreshing not to see too many fastidious VAR checks for handball or other types of dubious penalty shout. The early rounds of this Champions League group stage were riddled with such occurrences.
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-1 Manchester City (Baku, 49)
That was coming! Another rapid Leipzig breaks sees the white shirts flood forward and this time Donnarumma is at fault. Somehow he’s let a cross from Ridle Baku in at the near post … talk about from hero to zero!
He should have done a lot better with that, it was simple fare for elite goalkeepers, usually gobbled up.
It’s an absolute procession for Como in Lens as Da Cunha drills home from Nico Paz’s pass to make it 4-0. This Italian team have come to play in this season’s Champions League. Lens are done.
What a save from Donnarumma to deny Christoph Baumgartner. That shot was bound for the top right corner before the Italian sprung high and got an important fingertip to it.
Leipzig are growing a little frustrated that their attacking efforts have had no reward thus far.
Manchester City are lucky to be ahead in Leipzig, and you sense they will have to step up in the second half to avoid another winless 90 minutes. They cannot seem to get Erling Haaland in the game, chances for any of their forwards in fact have been scant.
Arsenal’s opponents are more lightweight than Leipzig, but still the Gunners’ sharpness going forward has been notable, despite Mikel Arteta resting the likes of Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard and Christos Tzolis so far.
The second halves are mostly under way around Europe. Let’s get into the updates again.
Here are the reports from the earlier games.
Half-time scores
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Real Betis
Lens 0-3 Como
PSV 0-1 Club Brugge
Porto 1-1 Napoli
RB Leipzig 0-1 Manchester City
Slavia Prague 0-2 Arsenal
Viking 1-1 Sabah
And right there, after a hectic 45 minutes typing, I shall take the shortest of breaks! Plenty more fun to be had in the second halves.
The half-time whistles are starting to sound. We’ll round up all the scores soon.
GOAL! Porto 1-1 Napoli (McTominay, 43)
Napoli had wasted a couple of chances to get level in Porto but Scott McTominay – who else? – has found an equaliser a few minutes before half-time. A great reactive rebound effort from the former Manchester United man.
Paz paid tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel with a t-shirt showing the player’s image, after scoring his goal. Paz grew up on Tenerife and was part of the club’s academy for two years as a boy.
3-0 to Como in Lens. Nico Paz. Cesc Fabregas is clearly the greatest football coach to have ever graced our good game.
GOAL! RB Leipzig 0-1 Manchester City (Lukeba OG, 37)
City haven’t been at their scintillating best against Leipzig so far, but they’ve been handed the lead by an awful own goal by Castello Lukeba. There were a million things he could have done with Nico O’Reilly’s cutback … other than to bundle it into his own net.
GOAL! Slavia Prague 0-2 Arsenal (Gyökeres, 38)
Just when I thought I may be wrong about Arsenal in my earlier post, with the Slavia defence seemingly holding up well, Viktor Gyökeres slides one into the far corner after nice interplay with Mikel Merino. Two-nil and it will probably be more before long.
Douvikas is now out on his own as the top-scorer in this season’s Champions League so far, with five goals.
Tresoldi of Club Brugge is there on four alongside a tranche of star names, including Ballon D’Or’s Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Dortmund hitman Guirassy and Roma’s Donyell Malen.
We’ll keep tabs on that.
Como have doubled their lead at Lens! Douvikas nets his second of the evening for Cesc Fabregas’s side, who are seriously enjoying life in the Champions League, aren’t they? (0-2)
This isn’t Champions League-related, but a quick check of how West Ham are faring in their first game after sacking Nuno Espírito Santo and appointing Scott Parker … and they are 3-0 down at Cardiff City.
Jack Moylan has bagged a hat-trick for the Bluebirds. Perhaps there will be no quick fix for the Hammers.
