Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League delivered a memorable slate of fixtures, featuring statement wins of a surprise upsets, and standout individual displays across Europe.
Chelsea climbed to fifth in the league-phase standings after overwhelming Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in one of their most complete performances of the season.
Barcelona threatened first through Ferran Torres, who failed to convert a clear early chance, but Chelsea struck in the 27th minute when Pedro Neto’s driven effort deflected off Jules Kounde into his own net.
Barça’s night deteriorated just before halftime as Ronald Araújo picked up a second yellow card for a reckless challenge.
Reduced to ten men, the visitors were pulled apart by a ruthless Chelsea side after the break.
Teenage star Estêvão continued his superb continental form, weaving through two defenders before smashing in his third goal in three Champions League matches. Liam Delap later capped the evening, calmly finishing from an incisive Enzo Fernández pass.
For their part, Manchester City squandered the chance to reach the top of the table as Bayer Leverkusen produced one of the week’s biggest surprises, ending City’s seven-year unbeaten home streak in European league-phase or group-stage play.
Nathan Aké forced an early reflex save from Mark Flekken, but Leverkusen remained composed, absorbing pressure before launching a slick counterattack finished by captain Alejandro Grimaldo.
City’s frustrations mounted as Flekken delivered a succession of superb saves. Early in the second half, Ibrahim Maza curled in an inviting ball that Patrik Schick delicately steered into the far corner, sealing a landmark away victory for the Germans.
Borussia Dortmund recorded their fourth league-phase win with a commanding home performance powered by the prolific Serhou Guirassy.
The striker tapped in during first-half stoppage time amid a goalmouth scramble before Villarreal’s Juan Foyth was sent off shortly after the restart for handling Guirassy’s shot on the line. Guirassy converted from the rebound after his initial penalty was saved.
Karim Adeyemi drilled in Dortmund’s third, while Daniel Svensson headed home late to round out the rout. Substitute Fábio Silva missed a further penalty, but it made little difference against still-winless Villarreal.
Union Saint-Gilloise reignited their campaign with a gritty victory in Istanbul, ending Galatasaray’s three-match winning run.
The breakthrough came shortly before the hour mark when Promise David drifted unmarked into the box to meet Adem Zorgane’s precise cutback.
Galatasaray, without injured top scorer Victor Osimhen, came closest through Gabriel Sara, whose fierce attempt shaved the post. Davinson Sánchez nearly leveled late on but lifted his effort over the bar, and the hosts finished with ten men after Arda Ünyay’s late dismissal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired Marseille to a comeback victory over Newcastle in a fiery atmosphere at the Vélodrome.
Harvey Barnes opened the scoring early for Newcastle after a clean move from the right, but Marseille responded with unrelenting pressure.
Aubameyang struck twice within minutes after halftime—first with a composed finish, then with an emphatic second, to secure a vital win for the French side.
Benfica finally collected their first league-phase points, defeating Ajax with goals from Samuel Dahl and Leandro Barreiro, further sinking the Dutch side to a fifth consecutive defeat.
Dahl blasted in the opener after a stunning save from VÃtÄ›zslav JaroÅ¡, while Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin preserved the lead with key stops from Davy Klaassen and debutant Rayane Bounida.
Klaassen later squandered a gilt-edged chance before Barreiro sealed the win in stoppage time following a slick combination with Fredrik Aursnes.
Scott McTominay steered Napoli to a controlled victory, influencing both goals in a disciplined performance.
Qarabağ tested the hosts early through Emmanuel Addai, while David Neres forced a spectacular stop from Mateusz Kochalski. The Qarabağ keeper later denied Rasmus Højlund from the penalty spot, keeping the first half scoreless.
Napoli eventually broke through when McTominay headed in after a flowing move. Ten minutes later, he volleyed MathÃas Olivera’s cross goalward, with the effort deflecting off Marko Janković to secure all three points.
Juventus overturned an early deficit in Arctic conditions to snatch a dramatic stoppage-time win against Bodø/Glimt.
The hosts controlled the opening half and took a deserved lead through Ole Didrik Blomberg. Juventus responded as Loïs Openda swiveled sharply to equalize before Weston McKennie’s towering header put them ahead.
Bodø/Glimt appeared to have rescued a point when Sondre Brunstad Fet converted an 87th-minute penalty, but Jonathan David struck deep into added time to hand Juve a thrilling victory.
Slavia Praha and Athletic Club battled to a tense 0–0 draw defined by exceptional goalkeeping and near misses.
Oihan Sancet engineered the best chance of the first half on the counter, only for Jindřich Staněk to deny him superbly. The Slavia goalkeeper remained outstanding after the break, producing three rapid saves to keep out Robert Navarro.
Slavia nearly snatched the win late on, but Štěpán Chaloupek fired over from close range as both sides settled for a point.
