Champions League results: Erling Haaland helps Manchester City beat Real Madrid; Arsenal goes top, remains undefeated

Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win over Club Brugge during Matchday 6 on Wednesday to move ahead of Bayern Munich into solo position atop the Champions League table. A brace from Noni Madueke and an insurance marker from Gabriel Martinelli, who has now scored in five straight games in the competition, helped the Gunners to improve to 6-0-0 and remain the only undefeated side.

Madueke won “goal of the day” honors after opening the scoring with a rocket from outside the Brugge box in the 25th minute.

In the battle of European giants, Erling Haaland’s 43rd minute penalty was the difference as Manchester City topped Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.

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Rodrygo put Real Madrid up first after taking a Jude Bellingham ball and firing a sht across the box past Gianluigi Donnarumma for his first goal in 32 matches.

Seven minutes later, Nico O’Reilly leveled things after putting home a rebound following a Manchester City corner. Rayan Cherki’s ball was met by a Josko Gvardiol header, which Thibaut Courtois couldn’t handle cleanly, allowing O’Reilly to get the visitors back into the match.

Minutes before halftime, Antonio Rüdiger pulled Haaland down inside the Real Madrid box and a penalty was awarded following a VAR review. Haaland sent Courtois in the wrong direction for his 34th goal this season for club and country and his 55th goal in his 54th career Champions League match.

Elsewhere around the grounds, U.S national team midfielder Weston McKennie and Canada striker Jonathan David contributed both goals in Juventus’ 2-0 win over Pafos.

That was the same scoreline as Benfica got by Napoli with goals from Richard Ríos and Leandro Barreiro. PSG earned a point in a goalless draw with Athletic Club and are tied for third with Manchester City and Atalanta on 13 points. Bodø/Glimt and Borussia Dortmund alternated goals during a 2-2 draw. Julian Brandt bagged a brace with goals in each half and Jens Hauge rescued the point for Bodø with a 75th minute equalizer.

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Newcastle had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen after Alejandro Grimaldo equalized in the 88th minute. Anthony Gordon and 19-year-old Lewis Miley had given the Magpies the lead before the two points were dropped late.

Ajax moved off the bottom of the table with a 4-2 win over Qarabağ. Oscar Gloukh tied the match at two in the 79th minute and Anton Gaaei put the visitors ahead three minutes later. Gloukh would add his second of the match in the 90th minute to secure the three points. Copenhagen picked up its second win of the competition, thanks to Andreas Cornelius’ 90th minute goal during a 3-2 win over Villarreal.

Champions League Matchday 6 results

FT: Qarabağ 2-4 Ajax
FT: Villarreal 2-3 Copenhagen
FT: Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City
FT: Athletic Club 0-0 PSG
FT: Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle
FT: Benfica 2-0 Napoli
FT: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bodø/Glimt
FT: Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal
FT: Juventus 2-0 Pafos