If the avalanche of goals between Paris and Tottenham left its mark, it was the entire European map which shook this Wednesday evening. An evening of change, where hierarchies were affirmed for some and collapsed for others. From the tactical intensity of London to the breathtaking drama of Madrid, via the astonishment of Anfield, this Champions League day offered a summary of all that football can produce in terms of contradictory emotions. Between collective demonstrations of force, saving individual exploits and worrying defeats, this European night will leave major accounting and psychological traces for the favorites of the competition.
Arsenal alone in the world, Madrid mentally
The climax of the evening was held at the Emirates, where the only two “invincibles” at the start of the season clashed. The verdict was clear: Arsenal outclassed Bayern Munich (3-1). Timber, Madueke and Martinelli cemented the superiority of Mikel Arteta’s men, relegating Carl’s goal to the rank of anecdote to assert themselves as the bosses of the league phase. In Madrid, the scenario was much more tortuous for Real. The White House was scared against Olympiakos (4-3), saved only by an express hat-trick from Kylian Mbappé in seven minutes. The Bondynois even scored a fourth goal during the second act. A supernatural individual performance which preserves, for the moment, the position of Xabi Alonso.
At the same time, the other side of Madrid was also experiencing a Hitchcockian scenario. Diego Simeone’s Atlético managed to overthrow Inter (2-1) at the end of a stifling match. After Alvarez’s quick opening score and Zielinski’s logical equalizer, everything seemed headed for a draw. It was without counting on the “Cholismo”: in the final moments, Gimenez appeared on a precise corner from Antoine Griezmann to offer victory to the Colchoneros. A symbolic success for Simeone against his former club, which allows Atlético to breathe in the standings.
Liverpool in distress, Atalanta confirms
The atmosphere was funereal in England, where Liverpool is going through a historic crisis. Four days after the humiliation against Nottingham, the Reds imploded against PSV Eindhoven (1-4). Ninth defeat in twelve matches for an unrecognizable champion, ghostly in defense and without ideas. Arne Slot seems doomed: seeing this Liverpool, incapable of reacting, trembling for a simple place in the play-offs is an industrial anomaly. The Dutch technician could quickly pay for this inability to stop the bleeding of a group in total distress.
Elsewhere, Atalanta prove their success in Marseille was no accident. Palladino’s men swept Frankfurt (3-0), carried by an untenable Ademola Lookman, and moved into the top 10. Same score for Sporting Portugal against Bruges (3-0), good news for OM who will soon face the moribund Belgians. The false tricolor note comes from Monaco, hung by Paphos. A draw which compromises the ASM’s chances of direct qualification. Finally, Copenhagen dominated Kairat Almaty (3-2), concluding an evening rich in lessons.
