Champions League Matchday 3 Roundup

The Champions League just hit the halfway point of the group stage, and with the results in, things are getting interesting, as there are a few teams that are about to lock their spots in and others that are about to lock their spots out if they do not pick up the pace.

The “group of Death” has had their placements switched over after the most recent clashes, and it keeps all fans on edge. And there are teams like Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City that are just cruising with a perfect run so far.

Let’s get into a recap of some of the most interesting matches from matchday 3.

Champions League Matchday 3 roundup: Braga 1 – 2 Real Madrid

When:

Tuesday, October 24, 3:00 pm ET at the Estádio Municipal de Braga

Moneyline odds:

Braga +500 

Real Madrid -195

Draw Offs:

+390

Where Can I Watch?

TUDN, Star+, ViX, and Paramount+

The top of Group C of the Champions League is something Real Madrid is not willing to let go, as they added their third victory of the competition by beating SC Braga of Portugal 2-1 on a more than brilliant night for Vinicius Jr, who scored both assists from your team.

The current leaders of LaLiga also maintain their good pace in the Champions League, 3 out of 3 for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, although the Portuguese team created danger for them and at times smelled of a draw.

The can was opened by Rodrygo at 16 minutes in a ‘carambola’ play where the Brazilian finished off a cross from his countryman Vinicius after rebounding a previous shot that had hit an opponent. The goal came quickly, and soon, it was thought that there could be a win for the Spanish.

However, attack after attack, Real Madrid did not have the wisdom to increase the score, leaving the game open for the Portuguese. It was SC Braga in the following minutes who came closest to tying it after a miraculous save by Jude Bellingham.

Jude Bellingham found himself with a ball outside the area and with a cross-shot he beat goalkeeper Matheus Magalhaes to find the 0-2 score which, on paper, would bring calm. And it was only on paper because from that moment on the match became a nightmare for Real Madrid.

First, because just two minutes after the Merengue goal, the score would be 1-2 for SC Braga through Alvaro Djalo. The Portuguese team would corner Real Madrid at their door and, on at least three occasions, came close to tying the score, putting goalkeeper Kepa as a great figure.

Champions League Matchday 3 roundup: Barcelona 2 – 1 Shakhtar

When:

Saturday, October 21, 12:45 pm ET at the Camp Nou

Moneyline odds: 

Barcelona +590 

Shakhtar +1800

Draw Offs:

+750

Where Can I Watch?

TUDN, Star+, ViX, and Paramount+

Barcelona is short of strikers with usual centre-forward Robert Lewandowski already out with an ankle injury, and Joao Felix limping off with an apparent knock in the 74th minute.

Torres, though, made the perfect case to start up front in Saturday’s El Clasico league match against rivals Real Madrid. The 23-year-old found the net in his second consecutive Champions League game, smashing a bouncing loose ball home. He then received the ball on the turn and set up Lopez who brilliantly doubled Barca’s advantage with a fine strike which went in off the post.

Lopez also hit the woodwork in the second half and had a header ruled out for offside which would have restored his side’s two-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Shakhtar stunned their hosts, scoring on a rare break upfield, but never looked like adding a second to take a point from Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Champions League Matchday 3 roundup: Newcastle 0 – 1 Dortmund

When:

Wednesday, October 24, 3:00 pm ET at St. James’ Park

Moneyline odds:

Newcastle -120 

Dortmund +360

Draw Offs:

+285

Where Can I Watch?

TUDN, Star+, ViX, and Paramount+

After a draw in Milan and a home dismantling of Paris Saint-Germain, Howe and his players finally met their match in Edin Terzic’s intelligently incisive Borussia Dortmund. On a night when torrential rain cascaded down from the Tyneside skies, a fine first-half winner from the excellent Felix Nmecha ensured that, with three games to go, qualification for the knockout stages has been thrown wide open.

It was so wet at St James’ Park that giant paper towel rolls had to be pinched from the toilets to mop up the pools of water collecting on the plastic press box seats and creating rivulets along the work benches. Small wonder the usual replay monitors were removed due to an electrocution risk.

Happily, the playing surface was in rather better shape, creating a slick, speedy, end-to-end contest with both goalkeepers swiftly called to arms.

When Nico Schlotterbeck pinched possession from Gordon thanks to a high caliber, if high-risk, tackle he liberated a rapidly breaking Marco Reus before racing upfield to receive the return pass and pull the ball back for Nmecha. Pope was duly punished by a first-time sidefoot finish no goalkeeper could have been expected to save.

Champions League Matchday 3 roundup: PSG 3-0 Milan

When:

Wednesday, October 24, 3:00 pm ET at Parc des Princes

Moneyline odds:

PSG -117 

Milan +360

Draw Offs:

+300

Where Can I Watch?

TUDN, Star+, ViX, and Paramount+

The goals from Kylian Mbappé (32), Randal Kolo Muani (53), and the South Korean Kang-in Lee (89) were enough for Luis Enrique’s men to beat a ‘rossonnero’ team that remains two points last in the ‘group of death’.

In a match of reunions, like that of PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma against the team in which he made his name, the first confrontation between the brothers Lucas (PSG) and Theo (AC Milan) in their careers, and the various French internationals, current runners-up in the world, present in both squads, the match began to unravel with a low whip from Mbappé’s right hand, in a play typical of Bondy’s prodigy.

After a goal disallowed by Ousmane Dembelé due to a prior foul by Uruguayan Manuel Ugarte, former Eintracht Frankfurt striker Kolo Muani scored the second with another tight low shot that beat Milan’s French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. One minute before the end of regulation time, former Valencia player Kang-in Lee scored his first goal with the Parisian team against a Milan team that had not conceded a goal in the first two rounds.