5️⃣ things we learned from Wednesday's Champions League action | OneFootball

There was another dramatic slate of games across the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Here is what we made of the events across the continent.

Plenty of ups and downs in Group F

It was always going to be close when these four teams were drawn in to the same group.

And after three games, only Milan have failed to win a game, but with another three games remaining and only six points out of first place, anything is possible.

Newcastle were as high as they could be after thrashing PSG at St. James’s Park last time out, but the home faithful had to sit through a gutsy defeat at the hands of visitors Borussia Dortmund this time around.

Meanwhile, PSG shook off that thumping by cruising past Milan on home soil, taking first place in the group outright.

Typically the groups tend to take shape around the halfway point, but anything could happen in Group F based on what we’ve seen so far.

We can’t wait to see what comes next!

The Xavi project keeps rolling

After winning LaLiga in comfortable fashion last season, Barcelona are looking to take their success to European duties – and they are off to a flying start.

Through three games in Group H, Xavi’s side remain perfect and have only conceded one goal in the process.

Defence was the name of the game in LaLiga last year, and it appears the Blaugrana are continuing to ride the defensive wave towards the knockout rounds.

The hard-fought 2-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk came without a plethora of stars, as Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Jules Koundé, Raphina, and Robert Lewandowski were all unavailable against the Ukrainian side.

If an injury riddled Barça is cruising through the group stage, who knows what kind of damage they can do in the next round with a fully fit squad.

All to play for in Group E

While it may not be the highest quality group in the competition, Group E is proving to be one of the most intense.

Lazio have required two stoppage time goals from their first two games respectively, but found themselves top heading into the week.

However, an impressive performance from Feyenoord to win, and a draw between Atlético de Madrid and Celtic have blown the group wide open heading into the next matchweek.

Only five points separate Celtic in fourth and Feyenoord in first. With two more games to play in the group, that table could easily get flipped upside down before all is said and done.

Groups A, C, and F may have bags of talent, keep your on eye on Group E as we get to the business end of the group stage.

New kids on the block

The Champions League is highest level of football in Europe, and it’s chalk-full of superstars at every turn, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t new generation of stars on their way up.

Across the grounds on Wednesday we saw a number of newcomers put their name in lights.

For Porto, 24-year-old Evanilson came off the bench to bag a stunning hat-trick and put Antwerp the sword in Group H.

Meanwhile, breakout PSG star Warren Zaïre-Emery provided two assists for the Parisians against Milan, announcing himself as a key player in a stacked PSG side.

Feyenoord grabbed top spot in Group E with an impressive win against Lazio, thanks in large part to Mexican youngster Santi Giménez, who announced himself on the big stage with a brace in front of a packed De Kuip.

On a day when Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland both scored, it was still an impressive crop of young blood who will snatch the headlines come Thursday morning.

Almost a banana skin

Banana skin is right, as it was a slippery one at the Wankdorf Stadium Wednesday night.

Pep Guardiola was bemused that UEFA would allow any games to take place on the artificial surface in Bern, and after the 90 minutes we saw, he may have had a point.

Players from both teams were losing their footing on the wet turf throughout the night, leaving both managers thankful that no serious injuries were suffered.

The scoreline looks like Manchester City cruised, but the Swiss champions made it tougher than it appears on the surface.

It was 1-1 after nearly 70 minutes, but the defending European champions did what they do best, as Erling Haaland bagged a late brace to ensure City remained perfect so far in the group.