UCL Roundup: Odegaard Rescues Arsenal, Torres and Raphinha Shine, Liverpool Come From Behind

The Champions League delivered another action-packed night, with Arsenal, Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG and Sporting CP all picking up important wins. Martin Odegaard, Raphinha, Alexis Mac Allister and Ferran Torres were among the standout performers, while Stuttgart also enjoyed a big victory thanks to Ermedin Demirovic’s first-half hat-trick.

Odegaard Digs Arsenal Out of Trouble in Naples

Martin Odegaard kept up his hot streak to start the season, coming to Arsenal's rescue with a late winner against Napoli in Naples.

For most of the night, the Gunners looked like they might have to settle for a frustrating draw in their first Champions League outing since last season's painful final defeat. Arsenal wasted several good chances before Odegaard finally broke the deadlock with a well struck effort from outside the box, his fourth goal in five games this season if you count the Community Shield.

The relief was obvious at full time. Defender Piero Hincapie dropped to his knees and pounded the turf once the whistle went. Arsenal won every single group phase game on their way to last season's final, and this win means they are already up and running again.

Before Odegaard's moment of magic, Mikel Merino had a golden chance in his first start for the club since January but headed straight at keeper Alex Meret. Bukayo Saka then lifted a good opportunity over the bar, and Hincapie blazed one over from close range soon after.

There was a nervy moment when David Raya fumbled a long range effort from Kevin de Bruyne, but Ben White reacted quickly to clear the danger before Napoli could capitalize. Arsenal ended the night with 26 shots, their highest total in a single Champions League match since the start of last season.

Raphinha and Jesus Fire Barcelona Past Feyenoord

Raphinha kept his remarkable scoring streak going with another brace as Barcelona cruised past Feyenoord at home.

Gabriel Jesus, who left Arsenal for Barcelona at the start of the month, got off the mark for his new club late on, capping a night where his fellow Brazilian had already put the game out of reach.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the third minute with a piece of skill that beat two defenders before he calmly slotted home, his seventh goal in just five games. He has now scored in every match he has played this season.

Feyenoord, managed by former Barcelona player Giovanni van Bronckhorst, had a penalty appeal turned down in the 20th minute when Anis Hadj Moussa went down in the box. Not long after, Barcelona doubled their advantage through a curling 20 yard finish from summer signing Karim Adeyemi, who celebrated with his trademark back flip.

Raphinha added his second and Barcelona's third in the 57th minute, timing his run perfectly to fire past the keeper for his eighth goal of the season. Lamine Yamal then added a fourth with a free kick in the 77th minute. Barcelona are still chasing their first clean sheet in the competition since April 2025, though, after Sem Steijn pulled one back for the visitors in the 82nd minute. Jesus rounded off the scoring with a header, Barcelona's 22nd goal in five games this season.

Mac Allister Settles Things for Liverpool Against Atletico

Alexis Mac Allister scored the winner as Liverpool opened their Champions League campaign with victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai cancelled out an early Marcos Llorente goal for Atletico before Mac Allister struck from outside the box to hand Andoni Iraola his first home win and first Champions League win as Liverpool manager.

Mac Allister had been in the headlines the day before after admitting he was disappointed Liverpool did not offer him a new deal over the summer, despite being contracted until 2028. He let his football do the talking instead, curling a left footed strike past Jan Oblak that the keeper had no chance of stopping.

Liverpool remain unbeaten in the league under Iraola, though they have now conceded first in three of their last four games. This time it was Milos Kerkez failing to track Llorente, who finished off a Julian Alvarez pass. Curiously, five of Llorente's ten career Champions League goals have now come at Anfield, and he even named his dog Anfield after scoring twice there back in 2020.

Alisson kept out a long range Alvarez effort before Liverpool leveled just before halftime, Kerkez winning the ball back before Ronald Araujo teed up Szoboszlai with a clever backheel. Bradley Barcola, starting for the first time since his big money move from PSG, fired wide of a great chance early in the second half, but Mac Allister made no mistake moments later, pouncing on a loose ball to fire home in front of the Kop.

There was a brief scare when Barcola went down with cramp and had to be substituted around the hour mark, but Liverpool held on for the win. They travel to LASK in their next Champions League fixture on October 14.

Torres Hat-Trick Fires PSG Past Slovan Bratislava

Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick on his European debut as Paris Saint-Germain began the defense of their Champions League title with a big win over Slovan Bratislava.

The Spanish World Cup winner, who joined from Barcelona over the summer, added his goals after Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele had already put PSG in control with two goals inside six first-half minutes.

Dembele opened the scoring in the 17th minute, tapping in a rebound after Nuno Mendes had crashed a shot off the post. Slovan, managed by former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, were then caught out playing from the back six minutes later as Dembele headed in a second. He then turned provider, setting up Torres for a simple finish at the near post.

Torres doubled his tally two minutes into the second half with a well taken finish after a clever lay-off from Maghnes Akliouche, before completing his hat-trick by turning in a Dembele corner from close range. Suleiman Camara pulled one back for the visitors with a nice finish into the top corner, and Fabian Ruiz added a late sixth for PSG.

The win is a much needed confidence boost for PSG, who are yet to win a league game domestically this season and currently sit 13th in Ligue 1 after two draws and a loss. A performance like this in Europe suggests a Champions League three-peat is still within reach.

Demirovic Hat-Trick Sees Off Viking Debutants

Ermedin Demirovic scored a first half hat-trick inside just 12 minutes to help Stuttgart beat Champions League newcomers Viking in an entertaining match.

Demirovic opened the scoring in the 20th minute, finishing off a cutback from Angelo Stiller. Viking, the Norwegian champions, responded quickly through captain Zlatko Tripic just two minutes later.

Demirovic restored Stuttgart's lead soon after with a simple finish from a pinpoint Deniz Undav pass, before the pair linked up again on 32 minutes. This time Demirovic chested down Undav's ball and volleyed home to complete his treble. There was a VAR check over a possible handball in the buildup, and Viking keeper Arild Ostbo may feel he could have done better, but the goal stood.

Viking pushed for a way back after halftime as Stuttgart sat deeper, but they were unable to find a route through. Things do not get any easier for the Norwegian side, who host German champions Bayern Munich in their next home game of the campaign.

Sporting Come From Behind to See Off Galatasaray

Sporting CP recovered from an early setback to beat Galatasaray 3-1 in Lisbon and open their Champions League campaign with a win.

Goncalo Inacio's own goal gave Galatasaray a shock lead inside five minutes, but Sporting settled quickly and levelled through Geny Catamo's clinical finish in the 27th minute, sending the game into halftime at 1-1.

The hosts took control after the break. Luis Javier Suarez won and converted a penalty in the 57th minute, before Rodrigo Zalazar curled home a free kick six minutes later to make it 3-1. Galatasaray pushed for a way back but could not find the same quality of chance, and Sporting saw out the win comfortably.