Noni Maduke scored twice and Gabriel Martinelli scored another as Arsenal maintained their 100 per cent record in the Champions League and remained top of the table with a comfortable 3-0 win over Belgian side Club Brugge.
Arsenal’s sixth win in this game almost guarantees them a top-eight finish, meaning they will skip February’s knockout phase play-offs and advance directly to the Round of 16 in March. Brugge remain with four points, but are in high danger of missing out on a place in the knockout stages.
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The Gunners had a productive night at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday after losing to Aston Villa at the weekend. The Gunners made five changes to revamp their injury-hit squad, including Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who came on as a substitute in the second half and played 30 minutes, conceding his first goal in almost a year.
Madueke turned things around with a powerful strike in the 25th minute, winning the ball on the halfway line and weaving quickly across the field before firing a powerful shot into the top corner.
The home side came close to equalizing in the 39th minute when a quick pass allowed Aleksandar Stanković to put his shot wide of the target, but David Raya made two key saves from Christos Tzoris and Stanković to keep them close to half-time.
However, that momentum appeared to remain in the half-time changing room, and they were equalized two minutes into the second half when Maduke headed home the second goal.
Martin Zvimendi crossed from the left and Maduke was left free at the back post, hopelessly out of position, as the home defense watched for the ball.
“I feel like we can win this tournament and win the league,” said an elated Maduke.
Martinelli breaks record for consecutive goals in the Champions League
Nine minutes later, Martinelli cut in from the left and fired a right-footed shot into the net to score his fifth goal and add to his third in this season’s Champions League appearances, having missed one game for Arsenal.
Jesus came close to making his dream return after a long knee injury when his shot hit the crossbar in the 79th minute, but Arsenal still had time for 16-year-old Marli Salmon to make his debut at right-back with seven minutes remaining. He is the fourth youngest player to feature for the Gunners.
Brugge went into the game in turmoil following the sudden sacking of manager Nicky Hayen on Monday, with his replacement Ivan Leko taking charge in his second return to the club.
PSG held in Bilbao, Napoli shocked at Benfica
Paris Saint-Germain played out their first goalless draw of the season with Athletic Bilbao, but home goalkeeper Unai Simon made a series of fine saves to prevent the defending champions from winning and remain the driving force in their bid to directly qualify for the Champions League last 16.
Luis Enrique’s side had some clear-cut chances after coming under pressure in the first half, but Simon made some great saves and Ousmane Dembele’s absence was once again felt by the visitors up front.
As a result, PSG are in 3rd place in the 36-team league with 13 points after six games, while Bilbao are in 28th place with five points, two points away from making the playoffs.
PSG then travel to Sporting, while Bilbao travel to Atalanta.
PSG full-back Nuno Mendes said: “We have to do more. We weren’t in the best condition to be able to leave with a win. Sometimes we weren’t at our level. We have to keep trying.”
Bilbao first threatened in the 31st minute when Alex Berenguer curled a right-footed free kick towards the far post, allowing PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov to flick the ball back with his fingertips for a corner kick.
The Basque side enjoyed their best moments from around the 30th minute, pressing high and testing PSG’s defensive organization, but could not find a breakthrough.
PSG, who had to cope with the absence of French forward Dembele after falling ill, took the lead in the 19th minute with a quick counter-attack when Fabian Ruiz controlled well with his chest before firing a shot over the crossbar.
The Ligue 1 outfit regained a new intensity after the break and came close in the 49th minute with Simon disallowing twice in quick succession.
Hviča Kvaratschelia made a quick counterattack down the right flank and delivered a low cross that was evaded by Joao Neves and pounced on by Seni Mayur, but Simon reacted well to push away his shot from close range.
The corner pressure continued in the 53rd minute when Warren Zaire-Emery collected a clearance on the edge of the area and fired a powerful half-volley into the far corner, forcing another sharp save from the Bilbao keeper.
The clearest chance came in the 65th minute, when Bradley Barcola darted into the area for a one-on-one with Simon, and his powerful shot rattled the crossbar.
Leverkusen fights back to deny Newcastle
Bayer Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo saved Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw with a goal in the 88th minute against Newcastle United in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Newcastle, who also scored twice, thought they had done enough to come back from the deficit and move back into the top eight thanks to a strong second half performance and goals from Anthony Gordon and Lewis Miley, taking a 2-1 lead, but Spain international Grimaldo charged into the box to equalize with two minutes remaining.
As a result, Newcastle are now in 12th place with 10 points, while Leverkusen have fallen to 20th place with nine points. The top eight teams will qualify directly to the knockout stage. Teams from 9th to 24th place will advance to the playoff round and advance to the last 16.
Robert Andrich put the hosts ahead with a header at the far post, but the ball was deflected off Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães for an own goal in the 13th minute, and the visitors struggled against the German defense for much of the first half.
Newcastle equalized in the 51st minute with Gordon’s penalty after Leverkusen keeper Mark Frecken kicked the ball and Nick Waltemade was brought down before he could get it.
The team kept up the pressure and Gordon, who rattled the post with a powerful low shot in the 63rd minute, became the provider in the 74th minute, floating a cross into the box for substitute Miley to head in his first Champions League goal.
With Leverkusen firmly on the back foot, Eddie Howe’s side created a few more scoring chances, with Frecken coming to the rescue with a great save to deny Malick Thiau’s close-range header.
Moments later, Frecken was brought down by substitute Jacob Murphy, but the ball hit the post again and rebounded. Instead, Leverkusen scored again, and Grimaldo ran into the box and buried the equalizer, making it his second successive Champions League game.
Napoli shocked by Benfica, Dortmund jeers
Italian champions Napoli lost 2-0 against Benfica, but Juventus won 2-0 against Paphos with Weston McKennie scoring a goal.
Jeers rang out at Borussia Dortmund from full-time after Norway’s Bodo/Glimt secured a 2-2 draw and Dortmund’s Julian Brandt equalized twice.
The result was not beneficial for either team and Dortmund’s chances of advancing directly to the Round of 16 diminished. Bodø/Glimt have had three draws and no wins in their debut season in the Champions League.
Ajax scored three goals in the final stages of the game and denied Qarabag a surprise victory with an early kick-off.
Four-time European champions Ajax fell behind twice against their Azerbaijani opponents but fought back to win 4-2 in Baku.
Copenhagen also scored in the final stages to beat Villarreal 3-2.
