Night 2 of the UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 perhaps lacked the sheer volume of blockbuster fixtures seen on Night 1, but it certainly delivered an action-packed schedule that produced a high number of goals and plenty of controversy. The evening delivered a number of thrilling moments, significant upsets, and a six-goal frenzy in Belgium, ensuring the entertainment levels remained exceptionally high across the continent.
Qarabag 2 – 2 Chelsea
The contest at the Tofiq Bəhramov Stadium saw Qarabağ FK play out a captivating 2-2 draw against Chelsea FC. The result was a disappointment for the Blues, who were expected to secure a comfortable win against the spirited Azerbaijani side. The key statistics highlight the dynamic of the game: Chelsea commanded a significant majority of possession at 61%, compared to Qarabağ’s 39% , and registered eight corners to the hosts’ two. This dominance in attack, however, failed to translate into a winning scoreline. The opening goal came in the 15th minute from the visiting side, with Estêvão putting Chelsea ahead. Qarabağ responded powerfully, with Leandro Andrade finding the net to equalize in the 28th minute. The hosts then capitalized on a pivotal moment just before the break, with Marko Jankovic converting a penalty in the 38th minute to put Qarabağ ahead 2-1. Chelsea was forced to chase the game, finally snatching a point when substitute Alejandro Garnacho scored the equalizer early in the second half in the 52nd minute.
Pafos 1 – 0 Villarreal
In the evening’s biggest upset, debutants Pafos FC secured a historic win, their first-ever victory in the Champions League league phase, by defeating Villarreal CF 1-0. The Spanish side’s UCL campaign continued to struggle, as they failed to convert their territorial advantage into goals. Villarreal registered 59% possession, but the home side’s defensive resilience was the deciding factor. Villarreal had an early near miss in the 4th minute when Nicolás Pépé took a free-kick that sailed just over the bar. However, Pafos found the decisive goal right at the end of the first half in the 45th minute, when a header from Derrick Luckassen from a corner proved to be the match-winner. The victory was a turning point that secured a historic triumph for the Cypriot side.
Club Brugge 3 – 3 Barcelona
The match between Club Brugge and FC Barcelona was a chaotic, high-intensity 3-3 draw where Barcelona was forced to come from behind three times. The action began with a rapid-fire start as Brugge took the lead in the 5th minute via Nicolo Tresoldi , set up by the pace of Carlos Forbs. Ferrán Torres instantly leveled in the 7th minute. Brugge, however, refused to back down, and Forbs, who was a constant threat, scored the second in the 16th minute and then a third time in the 62nd minute, putting the Belgian side ahead 3-2. Lamine Yamal was Barcelona’s spark, scoring a brilliant solo goal to level it at 2-2 in the 60th minute. He was also the creator of the third equalizer in the 76th minute, forcing an own goal by Christos Tzolis. The final major drama came deep into stoppage time when Brugge thought they had a late winner, but Romeo Vermant’s goal was controversially ruled out by VAR for a foul on the goalkeeper in the 92nd minute.
Ajax 0 – 3 Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen was the star man in Amsterdam as Galatasaray S.K. secured a convincing 3-0 victory over AFC Ajax. The striker’s influence was absolute, with all the goals coming in the second half. Osimhen broke the deadlock with a towering header in the 58th minute. He then completed his sensational hat-trick by converting two calmly taken penalties in the 65th and 77th minutes , sinking an Ajax side that remains bottom of the league phase with zero points.
Manchester City 4- 1 Dortmund
Manchester City secured a dominant 4-1 win at the Etihad, showcasing their attacking depth. Phil Foden was the star, scoring a brace with both goals coming from outside the box in the 21st and 56th minutes. Erling Haaland added a goal against his former club in the 28th minute. Dortmund managed a consolation goal from Waldemar Anton in the 71st minute , but substitute Rayan Cherki sealed the 4-1 scoreline in the 90th minute.
Inter 2 – 1 Kairat Almaty
Inter Milan secured a narrow 2-1 victory against FC Kairat. Lautaro Martínez put Inter ahead just before halftime in the 44th minute. Kairat surprised the San Siro crowd by equalizing early in the second half via Ofri Arad in the 54th minute , but Carlos Augusto scored the winner for Inter in the 66th minute.
Marseille 0-1 Atalanta
Atalanta snatched a narrow 1-0 away win against Olympique de Marseille. The match was headed for a stalemate until the final minute of normal time, when Lazar Samardzic scored the only goal in the 89th minute, securing the late victory.
Newcastle 2-0 Athletic Club
Newcastle United F.C. secured a solid 2-0 win over Athletic Club. The home side took an early lead in the 10th minute when Dan Burn scored with a header, becoming just the third Newcastle player to score multiple Champions League headers. Joelinton doubled the lead early in the second half in the 48th minute, sealing the win.
Benfica 0 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
Finally, Bayer 04 Leverkusen defeated S.L. Benfica 1-0. The decisive moment came in the 64th minute when Patrik Schick scored the goal that handed Leverkusen the away victory. The result means Benfica remains winless and on 0 points after Matchday 4.
Night 2 of the UEFA Champions League proved that intensity and drama are not exclusive to the traditional European elite. While Manchester City and Inter secured predictable wins, the six-goal thriller in Brugge and the historic upset in Cyprus highlighted the unpredictability of the new league phase format. For Chelsea and Barcelona, defensive vulnerabilities were brutally exposed, forcing them to rely on late interventions to rescue points. Meanwhile, Galatasaray and Newcastle positioned themselves strongly for a potential top-eight finish with dominant displays.
