Inter Milan secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in a gripping Champions League encounter at the San Siro, while Atletico Madrid stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a dramatic last-minute winner. The results added intrigue to the European competition and highlighted the tough challenges faced by several big clubs.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty just before halftime proved decisive for Inter Milan. The Italian champions remain unbeaten in the tournament and currently sit fifth with 10 points. Inter manager Simone Inzaghi praised his team for their performance against a formidable opponent, noting their intensity and commitment throughout the match. Arsenal, on the other hand, endured their first defeat in Europe this season, now trailing Inter by three points. The penalty decision against Mikel Merino, resulting from Mehdi Taremi’s deflected pass, drew frustration from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. He described the call as excessively harsh, especially given the close-range nature of the incident.
Despite increasing pressure in the second half, Arsenal could not find an equalizer, with Yann Sommer and Denzel Dumfries combining to block a crucial effort from Gabriel Magalhaes. This result marked Arsenal’s second loss in four days, amplifying concerns about their form as they juggle domestic and European ambitions.
Elsewhere, Barcelona impressed with a 5-2 win over Red Star Belgrade, consolidating their position in the automatic qualification spots. The match featured standout performances from Robert Lewandowski, who netted twice, and Inigo Martinez, who scored the opener. Despite a resilient effort from Red Star, which included a goal by Silas Mvumpa, Barca’s firepower proved too much.
In Paris, Atletico Madrid delivered a stunning blow to PSG with a stoppage-time goal by Angel Correa. PSG initially took the lead through Warren Zaire-Emery’s clever finish, but Atletico quickly equalized through Nahuel Molina. As the match neared its end, Antoine Griezmann orchestrated a counterattack that set up Correa for the winning strike past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The loss places PSG in a precarious position with only one win and one draw in four matches, as daunting fixtures against Manchester City and Bayern Munich loom.
Bayern Munich managed to bounce back from their recent struggles with a narrow 1-0 win over Benfica, thanks to a crucial goal by Jamal Musiala in the 67th minute. Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s perfect record in the competition came to an end with a 1-0 loss at Club Brugge after a penalty mishap involving Tyrone Mings.
In other matches, Brest’s impressive form continued with a 2-1 victory over Sparta Prague, moving them to fourth place, while Atalanta’s 2-0 win at Stuttgart showcased their growing European confidence. RB Leipzig secured their first points of the campaign with a 3-1 victory over Feyenoord, who played most of the match with 10 men. Shakhtar Donetsk also tasted victory, overcoming Young Boys 2-1 and deepening the Swiss side’s winless run in the competition.
These results underline the fierce competition in the Champions League this season, with surprises, resilience, and late drama keeping the stakes high for Europe’s top clubs.
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