Champions League Matchweek Five Review: Manchester City’s woes continue, Robert Lewandowski joins the 100 Club, Mbappe’s penalty miss at Anfield
Matchweek Five of the Champions League delivered everything that makes this competition unmissable: jaw-dropping comebacks, historic milestones, and the kind of chaos that only Europe’s elite can produce. As the group stage hurtles toward its conclusion, this week saw Manchester City extend their inexplicable slump, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski etch his name into the history books, and Kylian Mbappé endure a night to forget at Anfield.
From Atletico Madrid’s clinical demolition job in Prague to Aston Villa’s defensive heroics at Villa Park, and from Arsenal’s dominant display in Lisbon to Liverpool’s statement victory over Real Madrid, this matchweek showcased the thrilling unpredictability of Europe’s premier competition. For some teams, it was a chance to underline their credentials as contenders; for others, it was a brutal reminder of the fine margins that define success and failure on the grandest stage.
As the dust settles, we look back on the biggest moments from the week: Manchester City’s shocking collapse, Lewandowski’s entry into the exclusive 100 Club, and Liverpool’s growing aura of invincibility. Matchweek Five was one for the ages, and its reverberations will be felt long into the knockout rounds.
Champions League Matchweek Five Review
Manchester City can’t catch a break at the moment
How quickly the narrative changes in football. Manchester City’s five-game losing streak may have officially ended with a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord, but the result felt like another chapter in their ongoing nightmare. Pep Guardiola’s despondent expression at full-time said it all. For a team renowned for their precision and control, this was an implosion that defied belief, and perhaps the most damning result of their dismal run.
At 3-0 up with just 15 minutes remaining, City appeared to be cruising toward a confidence-restoring victory. But what followed was nothing short of shocking. No team in Champions League history has thrown away a three-goal lead so late in a game—until now. Josko Gvardiol’s errant back-pass sparked the chaos, his underhit effort intercepted by Anis Hadj Moussa to make it 3-1. Gvardiol, who has been under fire after a series of high-profile errors, looked shell-shocked as Guardiola buried his head in his hands on the touchline.
Is the stress getting to Pep?
— 365Scores (@365Scores) November 27, 2024
The Spaniard with some odd behavior after his side fall to yet another disappointing result. pic.twitter.com/B2Uz4T9GOV
Even at 3-2, City’s game management disintegrated. Rather than consolidating their lead, they continued to play with reckless abandon, taking unnecessary risks and holding an impossibly high defensive line. It proved disastrous. A simple ball over the top in the dying moments caught the defence napping, allowing David Hancko to pounce for Feyenoord’s dramatic equaliser. For City, it marked the 14th goal conceded in their last four matches—a stat unimaginable in their recent years of dominance.
This was not about injuries or tactical tweaks; this was systemic fragility. Guardiola, often the master of adaptation, appears at a loss to explain the collapse of a team that was once Europe’s most composed and clinical. If City cannot plug these gaping defensive holes, their Champions League ambitions—and their reputation—are at serious risk of unraveling further.
Manchester City are the first team in Champions League history to lead a match by 3 goals as late as the 75th minute and fail to go on to win. pic.twitter.com/d9fHsy2RLu
— 365Scores (@365Scores) November 27, 2024
Robert Lewandowski joins the Champions League 100 Club
Robert Lewandowski solidified his place among the Champions League’s immortals, joining Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to reach 100 goals in the competition. The Polish forward’s brace in Barcelona’s commanding 3-0 win over Brest was a masterclass in precision and timing. His first goal came from the penalty spot after Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot clattered into him, and he calmly slotted home his second in stoppage time.
A historic moment! 🏆 Lewandowski enters the elite 100-goal club. He becomes the third player ever to score 100 Champions League goals, joining Ronaldo and Messi🔥⚽ pic.twitter.com/cmQMbOaD4m
— 365Scores (@365Scores) November 26, 2024
With 101 Champions League goals to his name, Lewandowski has once again proven himself one of the most lethal strikers of his generation. Speaking after the game, he credited his team and their style of play for his longevity and consistency at the highest level. His achievement is a reminder of Barcelona’s renewed European ambitions, as the Catalan giants sit comfortably atop their group with their attack firing on all cylinders.
Viktor Gyokeres has a day off – but Arsenal decided to do his celebration instead
Sporting CP endured a night to forget as Arsenal stormed to a 5-1 victory in Lisbon. The Portuguese side struggled to find their rhythm without former manager Ruben Amorim, with star striker Viktor Gyökeres uncharacteristically subdued. Arsenal, meanwhile, were relentless, with Gabriel Magalhães powering home a header before cheekily imitating Gyökeres’ trademark celebration—a moment the Swede commented on in his post-game interview. “He’s welcome to steal it if he can’t create his own celebration!” mentioned Gyokeres, slightly tongue-in-cheek. The way he’s been scoring this season, it won’t be long before he reclaims it as his own.
Arsenal’s fluid attacking play, led by the brilliance of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, was too much for Sporting to handle. The win solidifies Arsenal’s place in the knockout stages, with Mikel Arteta’s side continuing to grow in confidence on the European stage. Sporting, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to recover in the final matchweek.
Atletico and Atalanta have an absolute field day on their travels
Atletico Madrid and Atalanta delivered statement performances in Matchweek Five, showcasing their attacking firepower in emphatic away victories. Atletico dismantled Sparta Prague 6-0, with Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa each netting twice in a vintage Diego Simeone display of controlled aggression and lethal counterattacking. The result moves Atletico closer to securing a spot in the knockouts, underlining their resurgence this season.
Atalanta were equally impressive, thrashing Young Boys 6-1 in Bern. Charles De Ketelaere stole the show with two goals and three assists, while Mateo Retegui added a brace of his own. Atalanta’s relentless energy and creativity in the final third were too much for their Swiss opponents to handle, solidifying the Italian side as one of the dark horses in this year’s competition.
Liverpool beat Real Madrid as Mbappé misses a penalty
Liverpool’s 2-0 dismantling of Real Madrid at Anfield cemented their status as one of Europe’s most formidable teams under Arne Slot. The Reds demonstrated tactical versatility, combining patient build-up play with moments of devastating directness and goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé endured a torrid night. With Vinícius Junior sidelined, the French star was expected to take centre stage, but he struggled to impose himself, missing a crucial penalty in the second half. His frustrations encapsulated a Real Madrid side that looked disjointed and devoid of ideas. Mbappé’s lacklustre performance has raised questions about his integration into the Madrid setup and whether he can consistently deliver on the biggest stage.
Emi Martinez produced some magic as Aston Villa continue to maintain Villa Park as a fortress
Villa Park has become one of the Champions League’s most formidable venues this season, and Aston Villa maintained their unbeaten home record with a goalless draw against Juventus. The highlight of the night was an astonishing save from Emiliano Martinez, who clawed away a goal-bound header from Francisco Conceição. The Argentine goalkeeper’s heroics preserved a clean sheet and extended Villa’s streak of defensive dominance.
Having already beaten Bayern Munich and Bologna at home, Villa’s defensive record in Europe has been nothing short of spectacular. Martinez’s 2.62 goals prevented ranks among the best in the competition, and his form is a testament to Unai Emery’s structured and disciplined tactical setup. Villa may not be favourites to go all the way, but their resilience at home makes them a difficult opponent for any side.
Emi Martínez doing Emi Martínez things 👑 pic.twitter.com/aGi0v3n5B2
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 28, 2024
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyHelfgott1 on Twitter (X)
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