🥐 Madrid back to winning ways, 5 key stories to start your Thursday | OneFootball

The Champions League matchday was marked by epic moments and drama. Real Madrid won 3-4 in Athens, celebrating the return of the best version of Vinicius Junior, who was crucial in the victory.

Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid secured a hard-fought victory against Inter, with José María Giménez emerging as the hero by scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. The contrasts were evident: Arsenal thrashed Bayern Munich (3-1), presenting themselves as contenders, while Liverpool's humiliating defeat (1-5) against PSV puts Arne Slot's continuity in jeopardy.

On the national front, FC Barcelona regains key players with the return of Raphinha and the anticipated comeback of Pedri for Saturday's match.

Today, the focus shifts to the Europa League and the Conference League. Celta de Vigo visits Ludogorets and Real Betis hosts Utrecht, aiming for the top spot. Additionally, a massive and historic movement of Rayo Vallecano fans is expected to Slovakia for their match against Slovan Bratislava.

Madrid Recovers Vinicius' Spark in a Goal Fest

The European night left a trail of emotions and goals, highlighting the hard-fought but sweet victory of Real Madrid against Olympiacos (3-4). Although the match turned into a shooting duel with a 'poker' from Mbappé, the big news for Madrid fans is the recovery of the best version of Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian once again became a decisive and game-changing player, restoring hope of seeing the winger at his peak level during the crucial stage of the season.

Giménez Becomes Atleti's Hero in the Champions League

Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid once again demonstrated their characteristic 'courage and heart' in an epic clash against Inter Milan. The red-and-white victory was cooked slowly, with a solid defense and an attack that did not give up until the end. The hero of the night was the Uruguayan José María Giménez, who rose in stoppage time to score the winning goal. This triumph reaffirms the combative identity of Simeone's team and positions them strongly in the competition.

Arsenal Thrives; Liverpool in Check

The fifth matchday of the Champions League offered dramatic contrasts. Arsenal FC under Mikel Arteta presented their title candidacy with a convincing victory (3-1) over Bayern Munich, showcasing offensive and effective football. On the opposite end, Liverpool FC suffered a humiliation at Anfield, falling 1-5 to PSV Eindhoven, a defeat that has seriously cast doubt on Arne Slot's future on the Reds' bench. The crisis in Merseyside is imminent.

Barça Breathes with the Return of Its Stars

On the national front, FC Barcelona seeks to turn the page after the setback at Stamford Bridge. Good news comes from the infirmary: Brazilian Raphinha is ready to return to the starting lineup, and the possible inclusion of Pedri in the squad for Saturday's match relieves a Hansi Flick who needs to recover key players to reverse the trend.

Day of Europa and Conference League for Spaniards

Today, the action shifts to the Europa League and the Conference League. Celta de Vigo has an important appointment in Bulgaria against Ludogorets, while Real Betis Balompié hosts Utrecht at La Cartuja with the aim of securing the top spot in the group. Finally, Rayo Vallecano will experience a historic fan movement to Slovakia to support the team in the match against Slovan Bratislava, promising a great celebration in the Conference League.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 ANGELOS TZORTZINIS - AFP or licensors