Champions League: Fenerbahçe Stun Liverpool 3-2, Valverde Rescues Real Madrid and Como Hit Lens for Nine

Liverpool’s flawless start to the Champions League league phase came to an end in Istanbul on Wednesday night, as Fenerbahçe came from behind twice to win 3-2 in one of the most dramatic evenings of the season so far. Matchday four also produced a late escape for Real Madrid, a narrow win for Manchester City and a record-equalling scoreline for Como.

Liverpool let the lead slip twice

Liverpool had won all three of their earlier games in the competition and went ahead through Nyoni in the 25th minute. Mason Greenwood levelled for the hosts four minutes later. Alexander Isak restored Liverpool’s advantage midway through the second half, but Fenerbahçe hit back again, and Vedat Muriqi struck the winner in the 79th minute. Liverpool slip to eighth in the table on nine points, while Fenerbahçe climb to 19th on five.

Late drama in Athens and Leipzig

Real Madrid were behind twice at AEK Athens. Koita gave the Greek side an early lead, Jude Bellingham equalised before half-time, and Pilios put AEK in front again with 15 minutes left. Kylian Mbappé replied within three minutes and Federico Valverde won it in stoppage time, keeping Madrid second on 12 points, level with leaders Paris Saint-Germain and behind them only on goal difference.

Manchester City twice led and twice were pegged back at RB Leipzig. An own goal by Lukeba and a strike from Enzo Fernández were cancelled out by Baku and Nusa, before Erling Haaland scored the winner 12 minutes from time for a 3-2 victory that lifts City to seventh.

Arsenal win, Como make history

Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1 with first-half goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres, although Slavia’s late consolation from Nowak denied them a clean sheet. Arsenal are third on 10 points, while Slavia remain winless and 34th.

The result of the night belonged to Como, who thrashed Lens 9-1, a margin that equals the biggest winning margin in the competition’s history. Douvikas scored a hat-trick and set up another goal, with Nico Paz among the other scorers. Como are now fourth on nine points.

Other results

• Porto 4-1 Napoli
• Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Betis (Karetsas winner in the 72nd minute)
• PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Club Brugge
• Sabah 1-4 Viking

Four rounds of the league phase remain, with the top eight teams qualifying directly for the last 16.

Featured image: Photo: Anl55400, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

• The Standard (Hong Kong) – Valverde rescues Real as Liverpool let lead slip twice to lose at Fenerbahce
• CBS Sports – Champions League matchday live updates
• ESPN – Champions League matchday preview and fixtures