AFCON 2025
The first night of matchday three of the UEFA Champions League will linger in the minds of the fans, especially the neutrals. It was indeed a night to remember, with the relentless wave of attacking football across various match centres.
Reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV, Arsenal, and Barcelona were some of the biggest winners on the night as they comfortably tore their opponents to shreds in breathtaking fashion.
Whether it was a show of terrible defensive display from the casualties or sublime attacking prowess from the victorious teams, last night’s Champions League football was indeed enjoyable and eventful.
3 things learned from Champions League matchday three.
1. Goals galore
A total of 43 goals were scored in Tuesday’s round of UEFA Champions League across nine match centres. Only twice has there been more goals in a single night in the history of the competition. Last season, 64 goals were scored in the final round of league phase matches with 18 matches played simultaneously. In October 1997, there were 44 goals scored in 12 games.
Reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, showed no mercy to Bayer Leverkusen in a 7-2 demolition at the Bay Arena. PSV came from a down to steamroll Italian champions, Napoli 6-2, while Barcelona showed forth their attacking prowess in a 6-1 win over Olympiacos. Inter Milan were a handful for Belgian champions Union Royale Gillioise as the 2010 Champions recorded a 4-0 win on the road.
2. Six penalty kicks and five red cards
Six penalty kicks were awarded across the nine match centres, with five scored; Lamine Yamal, Aleix Garcia, and Hakan Calhanoglu, among others, converted their kicks. Only Bayer Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo missed from six yards in the 7-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. While goals were scored for fun, some players got early showers with five red cards handed out. The most controversial on the night was the sending off of Olympiacos’ Argentina midfielder Santiago Hezze against Barcelona. Hezze had earlier received a yellow card but was controversially handed a second by the center referee, Urs Schnyder, a few minutes after the visitors pulled a goal back to make the scoreline 2-1.
3. PSG’s dominance and Arsenal’s early warning signs.
The defending champions hammered Bayer Leverkusen 7-2, reinforcing their status as favorites. With clinical finishing and midfield control, Luis Enrique’s team showed why they dismantled Inter 5-0 in last season’s final—depth and ruthlessness that could carry them deep into 2026.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners dismantled Atlético Madrid 4-0, crediting their growing experience in the competition for handling pressure with ease. All four goals came in a breathtaking second-half display as the Rojiblancos fell completely apart. As Arteta noted post-match, more games have bred belief, turning Arsenal into a squad that thrives in the league phase’s intensity.
