🇪🇺 Real Madrid down Napoli; Inter pull off comeback; Arsenal run riot | OneFootball

There was another full slate of Champions League games on this fine Wednesday evening, as qualification was on the line in many of the groups. Here is what went down across the continent.

Real Madrid put four past Napoli

Scorers: Rodrygo 11′, Bellingham 21′, Paz 84′, Joselu 90+4′ ; Simeone 10′, Zambo Anguissa 47′

Two late goals ensured Real Madrid downed Napoli to secure first place in the group.

While Real Madrid have already wrapped up qualification, they won’t be too happy with their slow start against the Serie A champions Wednesday evening.

Napoli opened the scoring inside 10 minutes when Giovanni Simeone bundled home a cross from point-blank range to silence the home crowd.

But that same crowd was brought to its feet moments later when Rodrygo leveled for Real Madrid immediately from the kick-off, leathering the ball into the top corner.

The hosts took the lead a little over 10 minutes later, through who else but Jude Bellingham, who headed home at the back post in style.

Los Blancos would not carry their momentum over into the second half however, as André-Frank Zambo Anguissa sliced a shot past Andriy Lunin almost immediately after the restart to level the scoreline.

Dramatically, teenager Nico Paz came off the bench for Real Madrid to fire home the winner in the dying minutes to ensure Real Madrid collected all three points and secured top spot in Group C. That strike was backed up by a Joselu goal in stoppage time to cap off an impressive Real Madrid display.

Inter stun Benfica with dramatic comeback

Scorers: Mário 6′, 13′, 34′ ; Arnautović 53′, Fratessi 58′, Sánchez 72′

Inter pulled off an astonishing comeback, erasing a three-goal deficit to draw away to Benfica.

It was a horror start for Inter as they found themselves 1-0 down inside seven minutes thanks to a João Mário strike from close range.

João Mário scored. his and Benfica’s second just seven minutes later after being left all alone at the back post, stunning Inter in the early going.

The former Inter man would not stop punishing his former employers there, tapping home at the back post once again to secure his hat-trick and put Benfica three in front as the match closed in on half time.

Inter pulled one back early in the second interval, as Marko Arnautović darted in to tap home after a deflected pass. While the goal was initially ruled out for offside, it was given as a good strike after a VAR review.

Out of nowhere, Inter were back in the game. A hooked volley from the penalty spot was fired home by Davide Frattesi cut Benfica’s lead to one with more than 30 minutes remaining.

Inter got the chance to complete the turnaround ten minutes later when Nicolás Otamendi fouled Marcus Thuram in the box, seeing Inter awarded a penalty-kick.

The spot-kick was coolly dispatched by Alexis Sánchez to take Inter from 3-0 to 3-3 with 20 minutes remaining.

It got worse for Benfica in the final five minutes when António Silva saw his second red card in the competition this season, opening the door for Inter to find a winner late.

Arsenal thump Lens to secure top spot

Scorers: Havertz 13′, Jesus 21′, Saka 23′, Martinelli 27′, Ødegaard 45+1′, Jorginho (P) 86′

Arsenal thumped Lens to secure top spot in Group B.

After a stodgy opening 10 minutes, Arsenal found the lead they desired as they close in on securing first place in the group.

Some weak defending allowed Kai Havertz in to tap home from point-blank range, seeing the German score his second goal in as many games.

The Gunners doubled their lead past the 20 minute mark when Bukayo Saka found Gabriel Jesus, who showed off some tricky feet before firing home to set the Emirates alight.

It went from bad to worse for Lens moments later when Bukayo Saka got his name on the score sheet to put Arsenal three ahead, and perhaps out of sight.

As if he was feeling left out, Gabriel Martinelli cut in from the left-wing before picking out the bottom corner to put Arsenal four ahead before the 30 minute mark.

The icing on the first half cake came in stoppage time, as Martin Ødegaard volleyed home from inside the box to put the Gunners five ahead in style.

A late Jorginho penalty was Arsenal’s sixth and final goal on the night, putting out a major statement across Europe for the Gunners.

Copenhagen snatch sensational point in Munich

Bayern Munich struggled to break down a resolute Copenhagen side, drawing 0-0 at the Allianz Arena to snap their winning streak at home in the Champions League group stage.

Copenhagen created a few chances in the opening 45 minutes, and perhaps should have found the back of the net through Roony Bardghji, but the youngster sent his shot just wide.

Bayern pushed to find the opener in the second half. The best chance fell to Harry Kane but his fierce effort was tipped over the bar by the keeper.

The Bundesliga side appeared to be given a penalty in the final five minutes for a push in the box, but no spot-kick was given after a VAR review.

The sensational point for Copenhagen means they can sneak into the next round with a win against Galatasaray next time out.

Sociedad and Salzburg draw blanks

Salzburg should have found the lead in the opening 15 minutes when a lightning-quick counter-attack allowed Nene Dorgeles, but the forward saw his chip bounce wide off of the post.

Despite a flurry of chances for both sides, neither could find the back of the net to snatch a win.

It’s razor sharp at the top of Group D after the result, as Inter and Real Sociedad go into the final day tied for first on 11 points.

Braga stay alive with gutsy point against Union Berlin

Scorers: Djaló 51′ ; Gosens 42′

With Napoli’s loss in Madrid, SC Braga did enough to stay alive for one more week, drawing with Union Berlin despite being down to ten men for most of the match.

While there was little goalmouth action to report from the opening half in Braga, it was not without drama.

The game was flipped on its head after a half-hour when Sikou Niakate was sent off for a reckless challenge, seeing Braga down to ten men for the final hour of the match.

The Berlin side took advantage of their numerical superiority in the closing minutes of the half, as Robin Gosens fired home from the left-flank.

The ten men of Braga would not lay down however, and they reclaimed parity after the break when Álvaro Djaló fired in on the break.

Man Utd collapse away to Galatasaray

Scorers: Ziyech 29′, 62′, Aktürkoğlu 71′ ; Garnacho 12′, Fernandes 18′, McTominay 55′

Manchester United let two separate two-goal leads slip away to Galatasaray, leaving themselves vulnerable to elimination on the final matchday.

The atmosphere in the early minutes was suffocating as promised. Manchester United took some time to find their feet and settle into the match.

But finding their feet proved to be no problem, as a slick attack was capped off by Alejandro Garnacho, who sent the ball into the roof of the net with aplomb to snatch the lead for the visitors.

Galatasaray felt they should have had a chance to reclaim parity from the penalty spot minutes later when the ball struck the hand of Scott McTominay, but no penalty was give, much to the chagrin of the home supporters.

It quickly got worse for the hosts as United captain Bruno Fernandes popped up with a sensational long-range strike to double the visitors’ lead before the 20 minute mark.

Galatasaray cut the lead in half before a half-hour was gone however, as Hakim Ziyech appeared to wrong-foot André Onana with a free-kick, pulling the home side to within one.

Manchester United put themselves potentially out of reach once again after the break thanks to a superb counter-attack, which was capped off by Scott McTominay, who continues his red-hot 2023.

The drama would not stop there however, as André Onana produced an almighty howler, somehow punching another Hakim Ziyech free-kick into his own goal.

Galatasaray completed the turnaround in style only a few minutes later, as second half substitute Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu fired home a rasping shot in past Onana at his near post.

United had a few big chances to snatch the win at the end, but some heroic defending kept the visitors out. The scintillating draw means Manchester United will need a result against Bayern Munich and hope results elsewhere go their way to stay alive next time out.

PSV come from behind to snatch win in Seville

Scorers: Ramos 24′, En-Nesyri 47′ ; Saibari 68′, Vertessen 82′, Pepi 90+2

PSV came back from two goals down to snatch a sensational win in Seville and take a huge step towards qualification out of Group B.

Qualification was up in the air for both sides coming into the night, and the tension was clear from the first whistle as neither side seemed too keen on opening themselves up to potential attacks.

The opener was found just past the 20 minute mark however, as a dangerous free-kick found it’s way home after glancing off of Sergio Ramos from close range.

The hosts appeared to double their lead when Djibril Sow capped off a superb counter-attack by firing home from inside the box, but a VAR review revealed a handball in the buildup, ruling the goal out.

Sevilla doubled their lead, legally this time, almost immediately after the restart through Youssef En-Nesyri, who got in behind before tapping home.

The home side’s night would get a little bit tougher past the hour mark however, as Lucas Ocampos was sent off after receiving his second yellow card. Sevilla would be forced to fight off the final 25 minutes with ten men.

Almost immediately, PSV found their lifeline through Ismael Saibari to reignite the tie.

PSV completed the sensational turnaround in the final 10 minutes. The home crowd was stunned when  Yorbe Vertessen snuck in at the back post to head home and level the scoreline.

Dramatically, the visitors found the winner in stoppage time thanks to Ricardo Pepi’s header, eliminating Sevilla from the competition in crushing fashion.