On Wednesday, 22nd January 2025, Arsenal triumphed 3-0 against Dinamo Zagreb, Real Madrid thrashed Salzburg 5-1, and Feyenoord stunned Bayern Munich 3-0. Inter Milan edged Sparta Prague 1-0, while PSG made a thrilling comeback to beat Manchester City 4-2, setting up a tense final matchday in the UEFA Champions League.
Here’s the roundup of the UCL games:
Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Arsenal moved closer to securing a top-eight finish in the Champions League with a commanding 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, 22nd January 2025. Declan Rice opened the scoring just two minutes in, following a clever lay-off from Kai Havertz. Havertz then doubled the lead with a header in the 66th minute, and captain Martin Ødegaard sealed the win with a third in stoppage time.
The victory lifted Arsenal to third in the standings with 16 points, and a draw in their final match against Girona will guarantee a place in the round of 16, avoiding a two-legged playoff. For Dinamo, the defeat left them in the elimination zone, needing a win against AC Milan in their final match to have any chance of making the playoffs.
Despite a recent setback in the English Premier League with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, Arsenal’s strong Champions League form continued, with Rice scoring his first-ever goal in the competition.
Real Madrid 5-1 RB Salzburg
Real Madrid hammered RB Salzburg 5-1 at home in a UEFA Champions League clash.
Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo both scored twice, while Kylian Mbappé netted for the visitors. Despite Salzburg’s early dominance, Real Madrid took control, with Rodrygo’s quick reactions and Vinicius’ brilliant goals securing the win.
The result boosts Madrid’s confidence as they aim to recover from a slow start. Salzburg, already eliminated, were sent packing.
Paris Saint-Germain 4-2 Manchester City
Paris Saint-Germain mounted a thrilling comeback to beat Manchester City 4-2 in the Champions League.
City took a 2-0 lead through Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland, but PSG responded with goals from Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, João Neves, and Gonçalo Ramos. The loss leaves City on the brink of elimination, while PSG climb into contention for a top-eight finish, with both sides facing crucial final matches to determine their fates.
AC Milan 1-0 Girona
A stunning first-half goal from Rafael Leão gave AC Milan a 1-0 victory over Girona in the Champions League.
Milan dominated possession but struggled to convert, hitting the woodwork twice. Girona had chances, but Milan held on to the win. Leão’s goal keeps Milan in the race for a top-eight finish, while Girona, eliminated, will look to end their campaign on a positive note.
Feyenoord 3-0 Bayern Munich
Feyenoord stunned Bayern Munich 3-0 in the UCL, with Santiago Giménez scoring a brace and Ayase Ueda sealing the win late on. Despite Bayern’s dominance in chances (32 shots on goal), Feyenoord’s defense and goalkeeper Justin Bijlow held firm. Bayern’s third defeat in seven games leaves them outside the top-eight, with a final match against Slovan Bratislava determining their playoff fate.
Sparta Prague 0-1 Inter Milan
Inter Milan secured a narrow 1-0 win over Sparta Prague, with Lautaro Martínez scoring a superb first-half volley. The win strengthens Inter’s bid for automatic qualification to the round of 16, with their solid defense and Martínez’s clinical strike proving enough. Sparta, already eliminated, failed to trouble Inter much in the game.
Celtic 1-0 Young Boys
Celtic earned a 1-0 win over Young Boys, thanks to an own goal by Loris Benito in the final minutes. Despite missing a penalty and having two goals ruled offside, Celtic pushed on and made their pressure count. The win secured Celtic’s place in the knockout round playoffs for the first time in 12 years. Young Boys, already eliminated, couldn’t make an impact.
