UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Gameweek 5 Recap

In this article, we take a look at all the action from Gameweek 5 of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League (UCL). 

Sparta Praha 0-6 Atlético Madrid

Atletico Madrid have now made it back-to-back Champions League victories as they defeated Sparta Praha 6-0 in the Czechian capital.

Julián Alvarez started the romp after winning a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, which he proceeded to score with a beautiful dead-ball strike. Just before half time, Atléti would make it 2-0 courtesy of Marcos Llorente.

Alvarez would grab his second of the evening just before the hour mark, before Antoine Griezmann came off the bench to add another goal to his Champions League tally. Later on, Angel Correa added two goals in the 85th and 89th minutes to complete the scoring.

The result takes Atletico Madrid up to 13th place in the league phase standings while Sparta sit in 28th place – one point off the final play-off spot. 

Player of the Match: Julián Alvarez 

ŠK Slovan Bratislava 2-3 AC Milan

AC Milan continued in their winning ways in the Champions League with a much-needed 3-2 win against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night.

The game started with the Rossoneri largely dominant, and after 20 minutes, the visitors took the lead through Christian Pulisic after some nice work from Tammy Abraham. Frustratingly, though, the Rossoneri did not learn from an earlier mistake and this time though, they were not saved, Tigran Barseghyan did not make a mistake, lofting the ball over Mike Maignan and levelling the game.

The second half was quite lacklustre for the most part until Rafael Leao set things in motion after coming onto the pitch at the start of the half, scoring to make it 2-1. Then, just minutes later, Abraham got his goal for the evening, pouncing on a mistake from the defence and slotting home with ease. 

However, Slovan got themselves a goal back a minute away from the end of normal time, adding a bit of nerve to the game, but a late red card quickly eased worries.

Player of the Match: Rafael Leão 

Young Boys 1-6 Atalanta

Last season’s Europa League winners continue to thrive in Europe’s top tier this season, with the victory in Bern leaving them in fourth place in the table, unbeaten after five games.

Mateo Retegui opened the scoring inside 10 minutes, however, Young Boys provided an immediate response as forward Silvere Ganvoula nodded home a corner at the near post. But the Swiss side’s joy was short-lived.

De Ketelaere, provider for the first goal, turned goalscorer to re-establish the Italian side’s lead before he then turned provider twice more to cap off a stunning first-half performance.

After the interval De Ketelaere secured his second with a low, deflected finish from the edge of the box. While substitute Lazar Samardzic tricked his way into the box to add the sixth goal in stoppage time. 

Player of the Match: Mateo Retegui

Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 RB Salzburg

Bayer Leverkusen got their Champions League campaign back on track with a 5-0 home win over RB Salzburg on Tuesday. 

Leverkusen, beaten 4-0 at Liverpool in their last game, raced into an early lead with Florian Wirtz scoring from the penalty spot in the eighth minute and Alejandro Grimaldo netting from a free kick three minutes later.

Wirtz scored again on the half-hour mark as Leverkusen threatened to run riot with Patrik Schick adding a fourth goal 16 minutes after the break. Substitute Aleix García rounded off the win 18 minutes from time, just four minutes after entering the pitch.

This win moves them up to 5th on 10 points, while Salzburg remain on three points in 30th after suffering their fourth defeat in five matches.

Player of the Match: Florian Wirtz 

Inter Milan 1-0 RB Leipzig

Inter Milan took another step towards direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Leipzig which moved the Italians top of the table.

Castello Lukeba’s own goal midway through the first half was enough for Inter – who are the only team yet to concede a goal – to win their fourth straight match in Europe’s elite club competition.

Italian champions Inter lead Barcelona and Liverpool – who host Real Madrid on Wednesday – by a point after a narrow win which should have finished with a more emphatic scoreline for the hosts.

Leipzig meanwhile remain on no points after a fifth defeat in as many games in the Champions League, with qualification for the play-offs looking extremely tricky.

Player of the Match: Piotr Zieli?ski

Sporting 1-5 Arsenal

Arsenal produced a statement win as Mikel Arteta’s full-strength side thrashed Sporting 5-1 in Lisbon to boost their chances of automatic Champions League qualification.

Arsenal punched in three first-half goals through Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel to put the Gunners into what felt like an unassailable lead by the break thanks in large part to an inspired Bukayo Saka wreaking havoc down the right flank.

Sporting pulled a goal back less than three minutes after the restart, centre-back Goncalo Inacio turning in a corner at the front post, raising the possibility of an unlikely comeback. 

Bukayo Saka slotted one past the Sporting keeper to regain Arsenal’s three goal lead before substitute Leandro Trossard tapped in the Gunners’ fifth on the night eight minutes from time to put the result beyond doubt and move Arsenal into seventh, above their hosts on goal difference.

Player of the Match: Bukayo Saka 

Bayern Munich 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain

Bayern Munich battled past 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 1-0, thanks to Kim Min-jae’s winner, to improve their chances of automatic qualification and leave the visitors in trouble after a third defeat in the competition.

With PSG’s only win so far coming against Girona in their opener they were desperate for points, but Bayern struck first with South Korea’s Kim heading home from close range after the goalkeeper Matvei Safonov fluffed a corner in the 38th minute.

Things got worse for Luis Enrique’s team when Ousmane Dembélé was dismissed for a lunging tackle that brought a second booking in the 57th minute, leaving an already struggling side with 10 players.

Safonov made amends for his earlier mistake by tipping a Jamal Musiala shot on to a post but, despite some late pressure, PSG could not deny Bayern.

Player of the Match: Kim Min-Jae 

Manchester City 3-3 Feyenoord

Manchester City’s woes continued as they surrendered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord and make it six games without a win for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Guardiola, enduring his worst run as a coach, seemed on course to see his side cruise to victory in this Champions League tie when two goals from Erling Haaland either side of half-time sandwiched ?lkay Gündo?an’s deflected volley. But there was late drama.

Anis Hadj Moussa seized upon a defensive error by Josko Gvardiol to pull the first goal back on 75 minutes before substitute Santiago Giménez converted from close range to set nerves jangling. David Hancko headed in the equaliser to leave City and Guardiola scratching their heads. 

Player of the Match: Anis Hadj Moussa 

Barcelona 3-0 Brest

Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski scored twice as the hosts cruised to a 3-0 win over French side Brest on Tuesday, with the Polish striker joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players to pass the 100 goals mark in the competition.

After successive LaLiga games without a victory, Barca returned to winning ways with a dominant display. Lewandowski gave Barca the lead but the wasteful hosts squandered several chances to extend their lead before Dani Olmo got their second with a fine individual goal after dribbling past two defenders and firing home. 

Lewandowski wrapped up the win in added time with a tidy finish inside the far post from Alejandro Balde’s assist. 

The victory lifted Barca to second in the 36-team table on 12 points from five games, one point behind Inter Milan and level with third-placed Liverpool, who host Real Madrid on Wednesday. Brest, meanwhile, dropped to ninth place with 10 points.

Player of the Match: Pau Cubarsí