Champions League 2024/25: Matchday 2 Review and Matchday 3 Preview
By Ian John
on October 21st, 2024
in bet365 Sportsbet365 GuidesIn-Depth Gambling Site Guides
This week sees the third matchday in the Champions League 2024/25. The new format competition is already shaping up to be very interesting with some surprising names at the top, middle and bottom of the 36-team table.
This week sees a real mix of matches including some of the biggest teams in the competition’s history meeting.
But before we delve into what matches are coming up on Matchday 3 in the Champions League 2024/25, let’s first go back and recap the results from Matchday 2.
Remember, you can enjoy plenty of betting on the Champions League with bet365 Sport. And the site also offers a free-to-play Champions League-themed 6 Scores Challenge game too!
Champions League 2024/25 Matchday 2 Results: A Closer Look
Champions League 2024/25 Matchday 2 Results
Tuesday 1st October
RB Salzburg 0-4 Brest
VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Sparta Prague
Borussia Dortmund 7-1 Celtic
PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Sporting Lisbon
Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Manchester City
Barcelona 5-0 Young Boys
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 AC Milan
Inter Milan 4-0 Red Star Belgrade
Arsenal 2-0 Paris St Germain
Wednesday 2nd October
Shakhtar Donetsk 0-3 Atalanta
Girona 2-3 Feyenoord
SK Sturm Graz 0-1 Club Brugge
Aston Villa 1-0 Bayern Munich
Dinamo Zagreb 2-2 AS Monaco
Benfica 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
RB Leipzig 2-3 Juventus
Lille 1-0 Real Madrid
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 – Team Form And Statistics
A look at the statistics and the form of the teams in the Champions League is always helpful in gauging future performances. Let’s take a look now at some of the teams that shone on Gameday 2 of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25.
Biggest Win – Borussia Dortmund 7-1 Celtic
Celtic were given a lesson by last year’s beaten finalists in this competition. The German side proved too quick, to decisive and far too deadly in front of goal for the Scottish Champions to cope with in Germany. Karim Adeyemi was the tormentor in chief, with three goals for the German side, although he did pick up an injury in the second half. At one point Celtic had drawn level to make this game 1-1, but after that it was one way traffic.
Biggest Shock – Lille 1-0 Real Madrid
The Champions League has become almost the personal property of Real Madrid in recent years. But the 15-time winners of the tournament went down to a surprising 1-0 defeat to Lille in what was an outstanding display by the French side. Jonathan David’s first half penalty in injury time enough to give the French side a stunning victory.
Other Impressive Performances
Champions League debutants Brest secured a stunning 4-0 win away to RB Salzburg.
Aston Villa produced a sensational display to beat Bayern Munich 1-0 at Villa Park.
10-man Juventus produced a fine display to earn a 3-2 win over Stuttgart.
Benfica produced one of their best displays in many years, beating Atletico Madrid 4-0.
Spanish side Girona went down to a 3-2 home defeat to Feyenoord.
Inter Milan cruised past Red Star Belgrade with a 4-0 victory.
Victor Boniface gave Leverkusen a 1-0 win over AC Milan.
Kai Havertz shone as Arsenal defeated Paris St Germain 2-0 at the Emirates.
Man City were 4-0 winners away to Slovan Bratislava.
Liverpool recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Bologna at Anfield.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Leading Scorers
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – 4 goals
Abdallah Sima (Brest), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Karim Adeyemi and Sehrou Guirassy (both Dortmund) – 3 goals.
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UEFA Champions League 2024/25 – Current Table After Matchday 2
Qualifying criteria for the Knockout Phase
Top 8 teams – qualify for the Round of 16 directly.
Teams ranked 9th to 24th – qualify for the Playoff Round to get into the Round of 16.
Teams ranked 25th to 26th – eliminated from the competition.
Each team will play eight matches in the league phase. Four at home, four away against a mix of opponents from the four different seed groupings.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 – Matchday 3 Fixtures
Tuesday 22nd October
AS Monaco v Red Star Belgrade
AC Milan v Club Brugge
Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk
Juventus v VfB Stuttgart
Sturm Graz v Sporting Lisbon
Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
Paris St Germain v PSV Eindhoven
Girona v Slovan Bratislava
Aston Villa v Bologna
Wednesday 23rd October
Atalanta v Celtic
Brest v Bayer Leverkusen
RB Leipzig v Liverpool
Manchester City v Sparta Prague
Barcelona v Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v Lille
RB Salzburg v Dinamo Zagreb
Benfica v Feyenoord
Young Boys v Inter Milan
Game of the Week
Barcelona v Bayern Munich
Two of the biggest teams in Europe clash in Spain and Barcelona have plenty to do in order to shift the balance in this fixture. Bayern have won all of the last six encounters between the two, Barcelona therefore have plenty to do to get a result here.
It is not just the number of victories, but the scope. Barcelona have not scored in any of the last four games with Bayern Munich and prior to that they were on the end of an 8-2 shellacking in the 2020/21 Champions League knockout stage.
However, under ex-Bayern boss Hansi Flick, Barcelona look back to their best in La Liga and they have Lamine Yamal, the exciting youngster.
This should be a classic of attacking football, so don’t miss out on Wednesday night!
Prediction: Bayern have won 10 of the 13 games between the two teams and all of the last six matches between the two. However, this Barcelona team looks more than capable of getting something here. Back the draw which is a 3.80 chance at bet365 Sport.
Surprise of the Week?
Brest v Bayer Leverkusen – Draw – 4.50
Bayer Leverkusen were so dominant last season and they start this game as the clear favourites, but Brest have won both their opening two games and will be full of confidence. It may be a lot to ask for the French side to win this game, but the draw is a distinct possibility.
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