The UEFA Champions League returned this week for the first day of Champions League Matchday 4, two weeks after Matchday 3.
Champions League Matchday 4 began on Tuesday, November 3, with Galatasaray handing VFB Stuttgart their first league-phase loss in a 2-0 win. The first day of Champions League Matchday 4 concluded with Manchester United overcoming a two-goal halftime deficit to beat AS Roma 3-2, ending a nine-game winless streak in all competitions.
As we head into the second day of Champions League Matchday 4 today, Paris Saint-Germain still lead the league-phase table with 12 points, as they are the only team to have won all their league-phase matches.
The first day of Champions League Matchday 4 showed which teams may turn things around in this competition after much-needed wins and which hit speed bumps after hot starts in the league phase. From exciting drama to surprising results, here are the biggest takeaways from the first day of UEFA Champions League Matchday 4.
Three Key Takeaways From Champions League Matchday 4
1. Manchester United’s Comeback Win Over AS Roma Could Save Michael Carrick’s Job
Heading into Champions League Matchday 4, Manchester United faced the prospect of extending their winless streak to 10 as it met an AS Roma side on a five-game unbeaten run, with their last loss coming against Real Madrid in Matchday 2. With Michael Carrick in the hot seat, the Red Devils were under heavy pressure to deliver a result.
Manchester United looked set to suffer another disappointing result, down 2-0 after 20 minutes and going into halftime with that deficit. However, for the first time this season, the Red Devils made an incredible comeback, scoring three goals in the second half to overturn the deficit and secure their first win since September 10.
Now, after this huge win, Manchester United have some hope of turning their season around, as this result might have saved Carrick’s job.
The Red Devils looked putrid in the first half as they gave up two goals to Roma in the first half to put themselves in an early two-goal deficit. They had only one shot on target and an expected goals rate of 0.24, compared to Roma’s 1.53. Manchester United were lucky to only trail by two, as Roma missed many chances in the first half to extend their lead.
However, Carrick finally pulled the right buttons with his substitutions, taking off Carlos Baleba due to injury and bringing on Youri Tielemans in the 51st minute. The team looked much more dangerous after the sub, and four minutes later the Red Devils won a penalty.
Bruno Fernandes originally missed, but he got a second chance when the referee awarded it after penalising Roma goalkeeper Devis Vasquez for encroachment. This time, Fernandes made no mistake and capitalised on the second penalty to bring Manchester United back into the game.
Manchester United started to find their rhythm after the penalty but struggled to break through.
In the 75th minute, Carrick made two more substitutions, bringing in Lisandro Martinez and Shea Lacey. They took control in the 83rd minute: Matheus Cunha scored the equaliser, and three minutes later, the Red Devils took an unexpected 3-2 lead.
In the end, Manchester United survived with 10 men after two yellow cards for Cunha, ending their nine-winless streak. The game finished with an expected goals rate of 2.72 for United compared to Roma’s 1.53.
What an incredible win for the Red Devils as they overturned a halftime deficit to win for the first time this season. Carrick finally got his substitutions right as the team grew into the game, and one of his substitutions, Lacey, made an impact by assisting Cunha on the game-winning goal. While some of this result should be about Roma’s collapse, Manchester United deserve a lot of credit for overcoming the deficit in a season where nothing has gone their way.
Carrick’s job is saved for now, and this result in Champions League Matchday 4 could be the start of a huge turnaround in the Red Devils’ season.
READ MORE: Premier League Matchday 9: Three Key Takeaways As Arsenal Take Top Spot After Win Over Liverpool
2. Bayern Munich Back In Form After Much-Needed Win Over Atletico Madrid
October wasn’t easy for Bayern Munich heading into Champions League Matchday 4. Their manager, Vincent Kompany, missed their last three games because of a health issue he suffered on October 23.
Despite leading the Bundesliga, Bayern won three of its seven October games as it struggled for consistency. However, the team regained its form, earning a much-needed win on the road against a strong Atletico Madrid side in Champions League Matchday 4 to put themselves back in the conversation among the Champions League contenders.
Bayern Munich dominated the first half but failed to capitalise, and the game went scoreless into halftime. They had an expected goals rate of 0.78, while Atletico had 0.33 in the first half. Bayern came out of the gates flying in the second half, with three chances to score, but continued to struggle to convert.
However, in the 54th minute, Bayern Munich finally broke through when Lennart Karl scored to take a 1-0 lead. After that, the team stayed aggressive in attack and doubled their lead with a goal from Konrad Laimer, finishing with a comfortable 2-0 win.
This was a much-needed win for Bayern in Champions League Matchday 4, as they had failed to win their last two Champions League games. With this win, they moved into the top eight with eight points and hit their top form, despite Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane missing multiple scoring opportunities.
Bayern Munich finished the game with an expected goal rate of 1.77 compared to Atletico Madrid’s 0.83. They had 58% possession, five shots on target, and 10 more shots than Atletico, who had nine.
Now, after this win, Bayern looked to regain its form after an uncharacteristic month in October. Everyone on the team made an impact while shutting down an Atletico Madrid side that hadn’t lost a home game this season and was on a nine-game unbeaten streak stretching back to September 9.
This was a huge statement win for Bayern Munich in Champions League Matchday 4 and should be considered among the favourites to win the competition after this result.
3. Aston Villa Hit a Speed Bump In Blowout Loss To FC Barcelona
It’s been a dream start for Aston Villa, as it won their first three league games and was tied for first place heading into Champions League Matchday 4. However, Villa was brought back down to earth in a blowout loss to FC Barcelona, showing signs of possible regression heading into the second half of the league phase.
While Barcelona were expected to win, Aston Villa’s performance was disappointing as they were blown out 3-0 in a game dominated by the Catalans from start to finish. Barcelona got off to a fast start, scoring 14 minutes in on a goal by Lamine Yamal after Villa’s defence made a terrible mistake by giving the ball away while trying to build up from the back.
Aston Villa did a great job keeping the deficit at one, but they didn’t really threaten to tie the game, with an expected goals rate of 0.41 in the first half compared to Barcelona’s 0.7.
However, everything fell apart for Villa as they conceded another goal seven minutes into the second half. Then, in the 64th minute, Raphinha scored his second to make it a three-goal lead for the Catalans, as Aston Villa had no answer to Barcelona’s high-powered attack.
In the end, Villa couldn’t score, and the Catalans got their first clean sheet in the competition on Champions League Matchday 4; the scoreline could’ve been worse without five saves from Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Aston Villa couldn’t compete against an elite team like Barcelona, finishing the game with an expected goals rate of 0.72 compared to Barcelona’s 1.96. They had 35% possession, one big chance, and only one shot on target, while the Catalans had eight, as they struggled to threaten in attack against a vulnerable Barcelona defence.
This was a huge setback for a Villa team that has shown it lacks the talent to threaten the competition’s favourites. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has now lost 15 of his last 16 matches in Barcelona, dating back to his time with Sevilla and PSG.
Things won’t get easier for Villa, as it faces Galatasaray, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and Slavia Prague in its final four league-phase games. After their performance against the Catalans, Aston Villa may no longer make the top eight of the league-phase table, as they face some opponents far more talented than they are.
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Extra Time Notes
In other results from the first day of Champions League Matchday 4, PSG continue to show why they are the favourites to win the competition, blowing out Villarreal 6-0 away from home. The Parisians scored four goals in 17 minutes to put this game to bed early, and they did it without most of their star players, including Ousmane Dembele.
Also, Inter Milan made a huge statement in Champions League Matchday 4 with its first convincing win of the competition, a 3-0 away win against Feyenoord. This was a much-needed win for the Italian champions, who have struggled throughout most of the competition, having only three points after three matchdays. Inter should now be back on track to make a run in the competition after a win in Champions League Matchday 4.
Every game except Bodo Glimt vs Lille produced goals and winners. Those winners made a huge jump in the league phase table as the second day of Champions League Matchday 4 looms.
The second day should bring the same excitement as day one of Champions League Matchday 4. Expect plenty of goals today as teams vie to push up the league phase table.
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