Gabriel scored in Arsenal's win against Atletico Madrid. © ANSA / NEIL HALL

43 goals: A completely crazy Champions League evening

Football fans got their money's worth in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. A total of 43 goals were scored in nine matches. The favorites prevailed in all matches – only Napoli suffered a surprise defeat.

21 October 2025

From: apa

Paris Saint-Germain, Inter, and Arsenal remain unbeaten after three matches. On Tuesday, the trio celebrated big wins: defending champions PSG thrashed Leverkusen 7-2 away, while Arsenal scored all their goals after halftime in their 4-0 victory over Atlético Madrid. Inter also won 4-0 at Union Saint-Gilloise.

Favorites also celebrated victories: Dortmund (4-2 in Copenhagen), Barcelona (6-1 against Olympiacos Piraeus), and Manchester City (2-0 at Villarreal). Napoli suffered their second defeat, losing 6-2 to previously winless PSV Eindhoven. Newcastle United inflicted Jose Mourinho's third defeat on Benfica (3-0). In the underdog clash between Kairat Almaty and Pafos, the hosts were unable to capitalize on having a man advantage for over 85 minutes (0-0).

Spectacle in Leverkusen

Leverkusen's first defeat in eight matches under coach Kasper Hjulmand was already a foregone conclusion after an entertaining 45 minutes. Five goals, four of them by PSG, two penalties, and two dismissals, the spectators had already witnessed. Pacho fired PSG into an early lead from a corner (7'). Alejandro Grimaldo missed the equalizer, hitting the post with a controversial handball penalty (26'). The unfortunate player then set up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with a ricocheting shot before the 3-1 (44').

PSG shot Leverkusen. © APA/afp / INA FASSBENDER

First, however, Robert Andrich was sent off after VAR intervention for elbowing the outstanding Desire Doue. PSG defender Ilja Sabarnji promptly followed suit for bringing down the breaking Christian Kofane. Aleix Garcia confidently converted the penalty to make it 1-1 (38'). Instead of German momentum, it was a fiasco, as PSG launched three ice-cold counterattacks in a matter of minutes: Doue (41'), Kvaratskhelia (44'), and Doue again (45+3') sealed the victory. Nuno Mendes (50') and Garcia again (54') continued the scoring before Ousmane Dembele celebrated a perfect comeback: Three minutes after coming on, the Ballon d'Or winner made it 6-2 (66'). Vitinha sealed PSG's record victory (90').

Four Arsenal goals within 13 minutes

Arsenal broke through Atletico Madrid's defensive line after the break. Initially, the Gunners were fortunate when Julian Alvarez hit the crossbar. The English side took control of the game with their strength from set pieces. Declan Rice's free-kick found the head of the incoming Gabriel Magalhaes (57'). This created more space, which Gabriel Martinelli (64') and the already criticized new signing Viktor Gyökeres (67', 70') exploited to seal a decisive victory.

Inter left nothing to chance. © ANSA / OLIVIER MATTHYS

In Brussels, it took a while for last year's finalists Inter Milan to gain control of the game. Union Saint-Gilloise initially pushed for the lead without success, but then the Italians proved effective: Denzel Doumfries, following a corner (41'), and star striker Lautaro Martinez (45'+1') scored twice before halftime against Kjell Scherpen in the Union goal, securing their third win in three matches. Hakan Calhanoglu (53'/penalty) and Francesco Esposito (76') further improved the goal difference.

Champions League:

FC Barcelona – Olympiacos Piraeus 6:1
Goals: 1-0 Lopez (7'), 2-0 Lopez (39'), 2-1 penalty El Kaabi (54'), 3-1 penalty Yamal (68'), 4-1 Rashford (74'), 5-1 Lopez (76'), 6-1 Rashford (79')

Kairat Almaty – Pafos 0:0

Arsenal – Atletico Madrid 4-0
Goals: 1:0 Gabriel (57th), 2:0 Martinelli (64th), 3:0 Gyokeres (67th), 4:0 Gyokeres (70th)

Leverkusen – PSG 2:7
Goals: 0:1 Pacho (7th), 1:1 penalty Garcia (38th), 1:2 Doue (41st), 1:3 Kvaratskhelia (44th), 1:4 Doue (45+3rd), 1:5 Mendes (50th), 2:5 Garcia (54th), 2:6 Dembele (66th), 2:7 Vitinha (90th)

Copenhagen – Borussia Dortmund 2:4
Goals: 0-1 Nmecha (20'), 1-1 own goal Anton (33'), 1-2 penalty Bensebaini (61'), 1-3 Nmecha (76'), 1-4 Silva (87'), 2-4 Dadason (90')

Newcastle United – Benfica Lisbon 3-0
Goals: 1:0 Gordon (32nd), 2:0 Barnes (71st), 3:0 Barnes (83rd)

PSV Eindhoven – Napoli 6:2
Goals: 0:1 McTominay (31'), 1:1 own goal Buongiorno (35'), 2:1 Saibari (38'), 3:1 Man (54'), 4:1 Man (80'), 4:2 McTominay (86'), 5:2 Pepi (87'), 6:2 Driouech (89')

Union SG – Inter 0:4
Goals: 0-1 Dumfries (41'), 0-2 Martinez (45+1'), 0-3 penalty Calhanoglu (53'), 0-4 Esposito (76')

FC Villareal – Manchester City 0:2
Goals: 0:1 Haaland (17th), 0:2 Silva (40th)