PSG & Real Madrid the big winners in Flashscore’s UCL review

As at all times at Flashscore, we paid shut consideration to Tuesday and Wednesday evening’s motion and have selected our champions and flops from a box-office few days that noticed a few of Europe’s finest sides go head-to-head in contests you could not preserve your eyes off. 

The drama started Tuesday evening, with arguably the match of the league part, as PSG entertained Barcelona in a conflict between the European champions and early-season pretenders to the throne. It delivered after which some, as PSG won 4-2 after 90 minutes of breathless football, however extra on that later.

And it continued into Wednesday as Como made a mockery of Man Utd in the early kick-off earlier than Real Madrid put on a show in opposition to RB Leipzig and Declan Rice‘s late equaliser rescued Arsenal a point at Bayern in the sport of the evening.

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Tuesday’s champion – PSG

This award goes to the back-to-back European champions after as soon as once more saying themselves as the staff to beat and the favourites to finish an astonishing three-peat. 

Heading into the heavyweight conflict in Paris, Barcelona had gained 11 from 11 at the begin of the 2026/27 season and have been wanting in unimaginable type. Hansi Flick’s aspect have been scoring for enjoyable too, bagging 48 occasions. 

So being touted as real challengers to PSG’s throne wasn’t unreasonable, particularly after PSG’s blended begin to the season. But from early on Tuesday evening, it was clear this wasn’t like every other staff Barcelona had confronted this season. PSG hunted them down like predators hungry for prey, and Barcelona made uncharacteristic errors consequently.

Somehow, PSG have been solely 1-0 up at half-time after Joan Garcia stored the guests in the sport. Barcelona had their possibilities too, however good groups at all times create possibilities in opposition to this PSG aspect, and Luis Enrique will not lose any sleep over it.

If you are questioning why, then the reply got here in the second half.

PSG conceded two targets as Barcelona twice got here from behind to equalise, however what makes this aspect so nice is their means to reply to adversity and go once more. 

PSG did that in epic fashion and, not less than for now, ended Barcelona’s problem to their throne.

Luis Enrique’s PSG have ripped up the phrase ‘defences win you titles’ by saying we do not care should you rating as a result of we’ll reply time and again till the sport is gained. They do not pleasure themselves on clear sheets; they pleasure themselves on their collective need to win and their means to try this virtually each time.

Tuesday’s flop – Fenerbahce

Being the flop of the day two weeks in a row tells a narrative of one thing going badly flawed at a aspect that, on paper, has some critical high quality. Just underneath every week after Fenerbahce have been humiliated at Villa Park, Ismail Kartal’s side hosted Slavia Prague in what regarded like an ideal alternative to get their Champions League marketing campaign going. 

And it obtained off to a dream begin after they raced right into a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes. Surely this is able to be a routine win now in opposition to a aspect surprised by Champions League newboys Sabah FC on Matchday 2 and have been there for the taking. However, a horror mistake from Matteo Guendouzi handed the guests a lifeline, and it turned evident this is able to not be a routine night.

Fenerbahce are predictable in their means to throw away what can be a sure win, and it got here as little shock to those that comply with them carefully when Slavia scored a Ninetieth-minute equaliser to steal a worthwhile away level.

It is one other embarrassing outcome for Fenerbahce (particularly in the context of how the sport unfolded) in a season that’s starting to underwhelm. 

For all the cash spent and star gamers, their sport administration is horrible, and Kartal deserves criticism for it. 

Wednesday’s champion – Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has made a blended begin as supervisor in his high-profile return to Real Madrid. However, his aspect are flying in Europe and made it three wins from three on Wednesday after a powerful dismantling of RB Leipzig.

On paper, Leipzig are a robust aspect and greater than able to making this a clumsy sport for Los Blancos. It wasn’t an ideal dwelling efficiency from Mourinho’s aspect, nevertheless it was scientific, and the place Leipzig have been wasteful in entrance of purpose, Real have been ruthless. 

The timing was excellent for Mourinho forward of an important ‘El Clasico’ this weekend, the place his aspect must win to get themselves again in the title race. And crucially, Real now have 4 attacking gamers in good type, and the timing could not be higher. 

Kylian Mbappe has scored 4 targets in his final three video games after his unstoppable strike in opposition to Leipzig; Arda Guler and Yan Diomande have netted in consecutive video games, and Jude Bellingham is taking part in at the high of his sport. With Vinicius Junior prone to click on into gear sooner or later, Real’s assault is beginning to look harmful, one that will not be underestimated for for much longer.

Wednesday’s flop – Manchester United

If Michael Carrick was underneath stress earlier than Wednesday evening, he’s absolutely in critical scorching water now after a dismal defeat in Como. A variety of credit score should go to Cesc Fabregas, who has constructed one in every of Europe’s most entertaining sides with good gamers like Nico Paz, Martin Baturina, and Anastasios Douvikas.

However, Como did not must play near their finest on Wednesday, and you could possibly inform they did not really feel the must exit of third gear for many of the sport. 

That is what groups typically do when taking part in a lower-division aspect, not in a Champions League match in opposition to one in every of the largest golf equipment in the world. That was the actuality and the motive is straightforward: Man Utd performed like a Championship staff.

Now, you may level to Carrick being compelled by accidents to call a removed from ideally suited beginning XI. Matthijs de Ligt hadn’t performed for Man Utd since final November earlier than being thrown into the deep finish of a difficult European away sport, and we could possibly be right here all day naming key gamers who did not journey to Como.

But Carrick should take some accountability; he seems tactically out of his depth, and his substitutions are both complicated or too late. Carrick wants to vary lots at Old Trafford, however after a dreadful begin to the season, exemplified by a pitiful defeat in Lake Como, the writing is definitely on the wall for the legendary former midfielder.