Phenomenal Day in the Champions League: 43 Goals, 6 Thrashings, and Countless Sensations

The third round of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage, held on Tuesday, October 21, turned out to be one of the most prolific in the tournament’s history. Across eight matches, 43 goals were scored, six ended in blowouts, five red cards were shown — and there was no shortage of football miracles.

Main Highlights

• Inter and Arsenal remain the only teams yet to concede a goal after three rounds.

• PSG earned their third consecutive win and look stronger than ever.

• Kairat picked up the first point in their Champions League history.

Champions League Results — October 21

Arsenal – Atlético 4:0
Goals: Gabriel, Martinelli, Gyökeres (2)
Except for a 13-minute spell in the second half, the match was even — but that was enough for the Gunners to demolish their opponent. Power, pace, and set-piece mastery — everything that makes Arteta’s team one of the top title contenders.
Best Player: Viktor Gyökeres

Newcastle – Benfica 3:0
Goals: Gordon, Barnes (2)
Best Player: Anthony Gordon
Goalkeeper Nick Pope provided an assist with his hand! Newcastle celebrate back-to-back Champions League wins for the first time since 2003. Eddie Howe’s team confidently outplayed Mourinho’s Benfica.

Copenhagen – Borussia Dortmund 2:4
Goals for Dortmund: Bensebaini, Fabio Silva, Nmecha (2)
For Copenhagen: own goal by Anton, and 17-year-old debutant Viktor Dadason.
Best Player: Felix Nmecha
A thrilling and dramatic encounter ended in a deserved win for the favorites.

PSV – Napoli 6:2
Goals for PSV: Bonjorno (own goal), Man (2), Pepi, Saibari, Drioesh
For Napoli: McTominay (2)
Best Player: Dennis Man
After McTominay’s opener, Napoli seemed in control. But in the second half, the Dutch side launched a furious comeback — 6:2! Dennis Man stood out with two goals and a heroic performance.

Villarreal – Manchester City 0:2
Goals: Haaland, Bernardo Silva
Best Player: Savinho
The 2023 Champions League winners dominated from start to finish, taking 7 points from a possible 9.

Union Saint-Gilloise – Inter 0:4
Goals: Dumfries, Lautaro, Çalhanoğlu, Esposito
Best Player: Denzel Dumfries
Inter, again without Mkhitaryan, had no trouble. The Belgians started brightly but conceded twice before halftime and lost control completely. Inter remain unbeaten and have yet to concede.

Bayer – PSG 2:7
Goals for PSG: Doué (2), Mendes, Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Dembélé, Pacho
For Bayer: Aleix Garcia (2)
Best Player: Nuno Mendes
Paris were unstoppable. By halftime, the outcome was clear, but both teams kept pushing. Garcia scored one of the most beautiful goals of the night, but it didn’t change the result. The reigning champions continue their confident march toward the playoffs.
Both sides received red cards in the first half.

Kairat – Pafos 0:0
Best Player: David Luiz (Pafos)
A first draw and first-ever group-stage point for the Kazakh club! It was an open and intense game where both teams could have won, but the goalkeepers were brilliant.

Barcelona – Olympiacos 6:1
Goals for Barça: Fermín López (3), Lamine Yamal, Rashford (2)
For Olympiacos: El Kaabi
Best Player: Fermín López
The Greeks put up a good fight, but in the second half Barça switched to their trademark tempo. López scored a hat-trick and became the star of the night. Hans Flick’s team made a strong statement in the title race.

Champions League Standings After the Matches