It was quite an eventful start to Matchday 6 of Champions League play with Liverpool keeping their unbeaten run going via a 1-0 victory over Girona, Bayer Leverkusen scoring the first goal on Inter via defender Nordi Mukiele to earn a 1-0 victory and Real Madrid won a barn burner, 3-2 away to Atalanta. Despite the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham all scoring, there's more concern for Carlo Ancelotti. Mbappe had to be withdrawn in the first half being replaced by Rodrygo after feeling something and calling for the trainers.
He was having a good start to the match, but depending on the severity of the injury, this could be quite an issue with Real Madrid still needing help to finish in the top eight of the league phase table. No new teams clinched a place in the knockouts alongside Liverpool but the woes continue for RB Leipzig who became the first team to be eliminated from being able to make the knockouts with a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa. It has been a concerning run for Marco Rose's side as they would've expected more in the competition.
Girona 0, Liverpool 1 (FT)
Dinamo Zagreb 0, Celtic 0 (FT)
Atalanta 2, Real Madrid 3 (FT)
Bayer Leverkusen 1, Inter 0 (FT)
Brest 1, PSV 0 (FT)
Shakhtar Donetsk 1, Bayern 5 (FT)
Club Brugge 2, Sporting 1 (FT)
RB Salzburg 0, PSG 3 (FT)
RB Leipzig 2, Aston Villa 3 (FT)
Girona 0, Liverpool 1 (FT)
Dinamo Zagreb 0, Celtic 0 (FT)
Atalanta 2, Real Madrid 3 (FT)
Bayer Leverkusen 1, Inter 0 (FT)
Brest 1, PSV 0 (FT)
Shakhtar Donetsk 1, Bayern 5 (FT)
Club Brugge 2, Sporting 1 (FT)
RB Salzburg 0, PSG 3 (FT)
RB Leipzig 2, Aston Villa 3 (FT)
It's the first goal that the Italian side have allowed during Champions League play as the final perfect defensive record falls. Quite the unlikely scorer too as Nordi Mukiele scores his first Leverkusen goal at quite an important time. That's a massive one for Bayer Leverkusen.
With a draw or a victory, Inter can clinch at least a playoff place. Still locked in a 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen things are hanging in the balance.
This time it's Ademola Lookman who continues his good form by pulling a goal back for Atalanta. He's assisted by Samardzic who was just introduced into the game and this is game is on skates.
Now it's Jude Bellingham and the entire attacking trident has found the back of the net. Atalanta hung tough during the first half of play but it is beginning to fall apart.
Mbappe may be off but that won't stop Real Madrid from scoring as a big mistake from Atalanta landed at the feet of the Brazillian. He wouldn't miss and now Los Blancos are leading away from home again.
The German side already has three shots in less than 10 minutes facing Inter after a quite tepid first half of play. They'll want to turn that into goals but it's a promising start.
Every game is either level or separated by only one goal at the half so anything can happen in the second half of these games. RB Leipzig will need to watch out because depending on how things break today, they can be eliminated from contention for the top 24 of the league phase.
This game could be back on with the Italian side having a chance at an equalizer in Bergamo. They wouldn't miss it either as De Ketelaere scores to bring things level right before the half.
While the XI is thrown off by Mbappe's exit, Jude Bellingham almost played Antonio Rudiger into a goal with the defender not being able to get his header on target.
Just as Real Madrid gets one key player back in Vini Jr, Kylian Mbappe needs to be withdrawn due to an injury. He'll be replaced by Rodrygo but this is something to watch when Atalanta has been creating chances of their own.
More than 20 minutes in, Inter have yet to put a shot on target but Bayer also aren't creating from good areas. Considering the defenses of the two sides, this isn't too surprising as thin margins will determine the match.
His runs during this game against Atalanta are something that can't be defended and already 15 minutes in, he has a goal and three shots in only seven touches. He may not be receiving the ball often in the early going but he has been devastating with it as his feet and Vini Jr's return only provide more space to work with.
They're already ahead 1-0 after a quick goal from Kylian Mbappe only 11 minutes into the match. It's just what the doctor ordered and this could be a turning point for Los Blancos that they're unlocking the Mbappe that they thought they were buying from Paris Saint-Germain. They'll need to be on their game but that touch and finish was excellent.
They're dominating the possession in the early stage and Kylian Mbappe has already tested Carnesecchi from inside the box. Los Blancos would love to get off to a fast start in this away trip to Italy.
We've already got quite a few goals from Aston Villa, Sporting CP, and Shakhtar Donetsk in the first five minutes of play in what could be a cracking slate of games.
Atalanta 1, Real 2 -- The defending champions need to get back to winning ways in the Champions League and fast. Carlo Ancelotti's men already saw off the Italians in the UEFA Super Cup but expect this encounter to be a little closer with Los Blancos just about edging it in a game where both sides find the back of the net.
Leverkusen 1, Inter 1 -- This one features two of the current top eight with the Italians unbeaten so far and likely to stay that way. The Germans have already lost but they do remain competitive and have scored more than Tuesday's visitors to date. Do not be surprised if it finishes level in a score draw or a narrow home win
Inter's Champions League defense can't be this good, can it? Not a goal conceded through five matches, a fixture list that encompasses England's top two last season and a Leipzig side not short on attacking talent either. If this defensive magic is going to continue against Leverkusen, watch for central centerback De Vrij to excel
Atalanta's defense has been good but even while not hitting top form for Real Madrid, Mbappe has 11 goals in all competitions. Only one of those has come in Champions League play so far as even penalties aren't automatic for Mbappe. But, with three goals in his last five matches, there's enough of an opportunity for him to find the back of the net. If you'd prefer less risk, he's only -130 to put two shots on target but it's worth going for the goal at a number like this.
The sheer volume of shots isn't back to where it was last season and perhaps it never will be in a team with Kylian Mbappe. Bellingham, however, has five goals in as many La Liga games after starting the campaign scoreless. The England international lives for the biggest occasions and this is about as high stakes as the league phase was ever supposed to get for Real Madrid.
Bayer Leverkusen: Kovar, Grimaldo, Hicapie, Tah, Tapsoba, Mukiele, Xhaka, Placios, Wirtz, Tella, Frimpong
Inter: Sommer, Bastoni, de Vrij, Bisseck, Darmian, Frattesi, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Carlos Agusto, Thuram, Taremi
Looking ahead to the later fixtures, Vini Jr making Real Madrid's lineup will be a welcome sight as they travel away to face Atalanta. Here's how the two teams will line up.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Kolasinac, Hein, Djimsiti, Ruggeri, Ederson, de Roon, Bellanova, Pasalic, Lookman, De Ketelaere
Real Madrid: Courtois,Garcia, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Vazquez, Diasz, Cebellos, Valverde, Bellingham, Vini. Jr, Mbappe
After missing a penalty for Liverpool in their last Champions Leauge game, Salah doesn't fail to find the net this time giving the Reds a 1-0 lead over Girona in the 65th minute of play. They could make it six wins from six games at this rate.
The action has begun for the day with Dinamo Zagreb and Celtic level at 0-0 finishing up the first half but the real surprise is that Girona's also holding Liverpoolk 0-0 at half despite both teams having some good chances in the early going of the match. There's much more to come but this critical day of UCL action is now in full swing.
