Champions league matchday 4 featured crucial battles among the continent’s biggest clubs as the group phase reached its halfway point.

Arsenal maintained their flawless record with a convincing 3-0 win away at Slavia Prague, with Mikel Merino starring as he scored twice. Bayern Munich secured a gritty 2-1 victory in Paris over Paris Saint-Germain, with Luis Díaz’s double making the difference despite his late red card. Inter also kept their perfect run alive by beating Kairat Almaty 2-1, solidifying their spot near the top.

In England, Liverpool gained sweet revenge for last season by downing Real Madrid 1-0 at Anfield, with Thibaut Courtois keeping the score respectable for the visitors with eight saves. The result gives Liverpool a strong chance of directly reaching the round of 16, while Madrid drop closer to the playoff mix.

Barcelona’s high defensive line was punished in a wild 3-3 draw at Club Brugge, a game featuring four goals in the opening 17 minutes, a stunning solo goal from Lamine Yamal, and a late own goal that saved a point for the Spanish champions. Despite the draw, Barcelona must now win tough upcoming matches to stay in the top eight.

Other standout results included Galatasaray’s 3-0 victory away at Ajax, where Victor Osimhen netted a hat-trick to become the competition’s top scorer with six goals. Chelsea dropped points again at Qarabag with a 2-2 draw and Atlético Madrid bounced back to defeat Union Saint-Gilloise 3-1.

Manchester City returned to form, beating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 with two goals from Phil Foden. Newcastle United earned a vital home win over Athletic Club, while Tottenham put on a show with a 4-0 win over Copenhagen.

Heading into the late phase of the group stage, Arsenal, Bayern and Inter remain unbeaten, while teams like Barcelona and Chelsea face crucial tests in the coming rounds to secure direct passage to the knockout stage.