PSG Triumphs Over Barcelona; Hojlund Shines for Napoli in Champions League

In a thrilling night of UEFA Champions League action on October 1, 2025, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Barcelona at Camp Nou. Despite missing several key players, including Marquinhos and Ousmane Dembélé, PSG managed to overcome an early goal from Ferran Torres, who netted after just 19 minutes. This marked a milestone for Barcelona, as it was their 45th consecutive game with a goal, setting a new club record.

PSG responded with a goal from 19-year-old Senny Mayulu just before halftime, leveling the match. The decisive moment came when substitute Gonçalo Ramos found the net in the dying minutes, securing a memorable win for PSG manager Luis Enrique in his return to Barcelona. This victory also positioned PSG as the first team to achieve three away wins at Barcelona in European competitions, following victories in 2021 and 2024.

Hojlund’s Brace Powers Napoli to Victory

In another standout performance, on-loan Rasmus Hojlund propelled Napoli to a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon, marking their first Champions League victory of the season. Hojlund scored both goals for Napoli, assisted by former Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. The Portuguese side managed to pull one back through a penalty converted by Luis Suarez, but it was not enough to dampen Napoli’s spirits.

English clubs enjoyed mixed results in the latest round of fixtures. Arsenal continued their strong start to the campaign with a 2-0 victory against Olympiakos, courtesy of goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. Martinelli opened the scoring in the 12th minute, while Saka sealed the win in stoppage time.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United celebrated a significant away victory, their first in the Champions League since 2003, with a dominant 4-0 performance against Union St-Gilloise in Brussels. Nick Woltemade, a summer signing, maintained his excellent form with a goal, while Anthony Gordon netted two penalties and Harvey Barnes added a fourth.

Mixed Fates for Premier League Teams

In a closely contested match, Manchester City faced a dramatic 2-2 draw against Monaco. Although Erling Haaland opened the scoring with two goals, bringing his tally to an impressive 52 goals in just 50 Champions League matches, City could not hold on for the win. Jordan Teze equalised quickly after Haaland’s first, and Eric Dier converted a last-minute penalty to secure a point for Monaco.

In other matches, PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen, while Villarreal and Juventus played to a thrilling 2-2 draw. Georges Mikautadze put Villarreal ahead, but it took goals from Federico Gatti and Francisco Conceição to turn the tide before Renato Veiga salvaged a point for the La Liga side in the closing moments.

In a remarkable display, Borussia Dortmund triumphed over Athletic Bilbao with a dominant 4-1 scoreline, while Qarabag made history by becoming the first Azerbaijani team to achieve back-to-back Champions League victories, defeating Copenhagen 2-0.

These matches highlighted the competitive nature of this season’s UEFA Champions League, with clubs across Europe showcasing their talents and vying for a place in the knockout stages.