Champions League Matchweek Six Review: Manchester City collapse, Saka shines and Liverpool continue their winning record
As the Champions League hurtles towards its final stretch in the new 32-team league format, chaos and intrigue reign supreme. Giants like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are fighting to keep their campaigns alive, while Liverpool and Arsenal continue to ride waves of form led by their talismanic stars.
Elsewhere, Raphinha’s resurgence has Barcelona dreaming big, and Brest’s underdog story provides a heartwarming counterbalance to the big-budget battles. From injury heartbreaks to historic milestones, this season is serving up the unexpected at every turn. Here’s everything you need to know.
Champions League Matchweek Six Review
Manchester City are on a downward spiral
Pep Guardiola’s furrowed brow tells the story. Manchester City are officially in trouble, and another lacklustre outing in Turin has only deepened the gloom. A 2-0 defeat to Juventus not only highlighted their lack of edge but left them with a dismal record of one win in their last ten games across all competitions. Once Champions League stalwarts, City now find themselves teetering on the edge of elimination.
Sitting five points behind Lille in the race for the eighth automatic qualifying spot, Guardiola’s men face the unfamiliar prospect of a February play-off to keep their European dreams alive. To complicate matters further, a critical January clash with Paris Saint-Germain — another struggling giant — looms large. Guardiola will hope to steady the ship before then, but with Rodri sidelined and a calendar bursting at the seams, the odds are stacking against him.
Bukayo Saka just gets better and better
Bukayo Saka is living proof that age is just a number in football. With another scintillating performance against Monaco, the 23-year-old delivered two goals and an assist, putting the Gunners on his back once again. Saka’s tally of 20 goal involvements this season (eight goals and 12 assists) underscores his growing influence, second only to Mohamed Salah among Premier League players.
Since Arsenal’s return to the Champions League, Saka has been a revelation, contributing in five different games — a club-best achievement. His latest display also saw him equal the Champions League goal tally of legends Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Özil in just 14 appearances. Arsenal fans may dream of trophies, but right now, they’re just thankful for their No. 7.
The Premier League’s assist king!
— 365Scores (@365Scores) December 1, 2024
Bukayo Saka added another 2 assists to his name last night, making it 10 in 13 games.
Only Cesc Fàbregas, Mesut Özil & Harry Kane have reached 10 assists in fewer of a team’s games from the start of a season in the competition. pic.twitter.com/xGipmPm0s4
Alisson returns as Liverpool make it 6/6
Liverpool have made serenity their superpower under Arne Slot. A 1-0 victory over Girona, courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s penalty, capped a perfect group stage campaign — six wins from six and 18 points secured. Alisson’s return to the starting XI brought an added layer of calm, with the Brazilian stopper pulling off crucial saves to preserve yet another clean sheet.
For Salah, it was business as usual: his 50th European goal for Liverpool marked a historic milestone, further cementing his legendary status. While Salah’s brilliance has papered over Darwin Núñez’s inconsistency, Slot has every reason to smile. Liverpool are flying in Europe, and they’ve done it with the kind of professionalism that champions are built on.
Raphinha is in red-hot form
When Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds, he was seen as a gamble. Now, he’s paying off in spades. The Brazilian winger has exploded into form, scoring nine goals in his last eight Champions League appearances after a quiet start to life in the competition. With 28 goal contributions in 27 games across all competitions this season, Raphinha has gone from system misfit to statistical marvel. His heroics include a hat-trick against Bayern Munich and pivotal moments in Clasicos and other marquee matches.
Mbappe was starting to show glimpses of his true self before he got injured
Kylian Mbappé’s night against Atalanta was a microcosm of his season at Real Madrid — flashes of brilliance, followed by heartbreak. His tenth-minute wonder goal, complete with a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque celebration, seemed like the spark Madrid needed. But just 25 minutes later, Mbappé limped off injured, casting a shadow over what could have been a statement night.
Real Madrid managed to salvage three points thanks to second-half strikes from Vinícius Junior and Jude Bellingham, but it was hardly convincing. For Mbappé, the frustration is palpable: his 50th Champions League goal makes him the second-youngest to achieve the milestone, but it’s bittersweet as injuries continue to interrupt his flow.
Kylian Mbappé hits 50 Champions League goals in just 79 games, equaling Thierry Henry’s record—who needed 112 matches! 🇫🇷⚽️
— 365Scores (@365Scores) December 10, 2024
The heir to the throne is here, rewriting history at lightning speed. 🚀👑 pic.twitter.com/7sh8BvSQoV
Brest’s fairytale story continues
In a tournament brimming with big-money narratives, Brest’s improbable Champions League run stands out as a reminder of football’s magic. Their 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven — secured by Julien Le Cardinal’s strike — made it four victories in six games for a team that was playing amateur football two decades ago.
Remarkably, Brest play their “home” matches 70 miles away due to inadequate facilities, yet their performances have been anything but substandard. With a squad built on grit rather than glamour, manager Eric Roy has his side on the cusp of an unimaginable knockout stage berth. If they beat Shakhtar next month, the dream continues. For now, their story is the stuff of legend.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyHelfgott1 on Twitter (X)
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