Five talking points from the Champions League action, featuring Victor Osimhen, Arsenal’s trophy chances, and Conor Bradley.
Osimhen regret for Europe’s top teams
Last summer proved to be a scramble for striker signings among Europe’s top teams. In the Premier League alone, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle all signed forwards for upwards of £55m, with the latter duo doing so twice.
Despite the cash splashed on striker signings, there was little concrete interest in Victor Osimhen, despite his availability. Galatasaray spent €75m (£65.9m) to sign the Nigerian, following a record-breaking loan in 2024/25, and have reaped the rewards of that investment. Osimhen has scored nine times in 11 games this season, including a tournament-leading six in the Champions League. A hat-trick at Ajax this week made it eight consecutive European games with a goal for the 26-year-old. He’s also now scored 15 goals in 20 Champions League games for three different clubs.
With a physical profile suited to the Premier League and a reasonable price tag last summer, it seems odd that no English team took a chance despite Osimhen’s reportedly huge wages. There are few better guarantees of goals in Europe right now.
Bradley picks perfect time to impress
Conor Bradley could not have picked a better time to impress for Liverpool this week. On the night Trent Alexander-Arnold made his first return to Anfield, the man aiming to replace him as the Reds’ right-back for the next decade stood out.
Bradley was brilliant up against Vinicius Junior, winning 100% of his tackles and eight duels against the Brazilian. Up against one of the world’s best wingers, Bradley came out on top. The 22-year-old might not have Alexander-Arnold’s passing range, but few do. He does, however, have a tigerish tenacity that Anfield appreciates.
Minnows make mark in new format
Whatever your feelings on the new format of the Champions League, there’s no doubt it’s benefitted the competition’s ‘smaller’ sides. No longer seeded fourth against superior opposition, the current format allows more games between teams of similar standing.
Several of the underdogs are enjoying success as a result. Pafos, founded only in 2014, have taken five points from their first four games, earning three clean sheets in the process. After goalless draws with Olympiacos and fellow debutants Kairat, the Cypriot champions earned a landmark win after beating Villarreal this week. Qualification for the knockouts might still be a dream, but Pafos are pursuing it.
Similarly, Qarabag are impressing. After becoming the first Azerbaijani team to win a Champions League game on matchday one, Qarabag have now taken seven points. A draw with Chelsea was their best result to date, after earlier wins over Benfica and Copenhagen.
Arsenal are genuine Champions League contenders
Arsenal, famously, have faced jibes from rivals for their lack of European success. Even the great teams of Arsene Wenger’s reign never got their hands on the Champions League, with the closest the Gunners came a runners-up finish in 2006, when their ‘Invincibles’ team was on the decline.
Now, however, Arsenal have a real chance. In what appears an open field, the North Londoners look as strong as any would-be contender. Four games into the league phase and Arsenal are yet to concede, with their run in all competitions eight games without seeing their goal breached. Arsenal are robust, immensely effective at set-pieces, and growing in confidence. There’s a real chance for Arteta’s side this season.
Another absurd Erling Haaland record
Another week, another Erling Haaland record. The Norwegian haunted former club Borussia Dortmund this week with an emphatic finish in Manchester City’s 4-1 win over the German side. In the process, Haaland made (yet more) history.
He’s become the first player in Champions League history to have scored in five consecutive games for three different clubs, having done so for Red Bull Salzburg, Dortmund, and City. Haaland has also now scored 54 goals in the competition, enough to place him ninth on the all-time list. He’s played just 52 Champions League games…
Read – Champions League Team of the Week – Osimhen, Forbs, Foden
See more – Five of the best solo goals in Champions League history
