By Abdullah Ajibade
From Arsenal's ruthlessness to Sporting's dramatic late winner, Champions League highlights from matchday 3 delivered the drama, intensity, and unpredictability. 71 goals across 18 matches made matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 the highest-scoring round in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record of 67 goals.
What is the highest-scoring Champions League matchday?
- 2025/26 Matchday 3: 71 goals (18 games)
- 2025/26 Matchday 1: 67 goals (18 games)
- 2024/25 Matchday 5: 67 goals (18 games)
- 2024/25 Matchday 8: 64 goals (18 games)
- 2000/01 Matchday 1: 63 goals (16 games)
- 2025/26 Matchday 2: 62 goals (18 games)
- 2020/21 Matchday 3: 62 goals (16 games)
- 2024/25 Matchday 7: 59 goals (18 games)
- 2024/25 Matchday 6: 59 goals (18 games)
- 2022/23 Matchday 5: 59 goals (16 games)
- 2021/22 Matchday 3: 59 goals (16 games)
- 2014/15 Matchday 3: 59 goals (16 games)
- 2012/13 Matchday 4: 58 goals (16 games)
- 2024/25 Matchday 2: 58 goals (18 games)
The big winners of Champions League matchday 3
Several European giants made strong statements with emphatic wins that could determine the road to the knockout stage. Below is a brief of the big winners of Champions League matchday 3 results:- Paris Saint-Germain 7–2 Bayer Leverkusen
- Barcelona 6–1 Olympiacos
- Arsenal 4–0 Atlético Madrid
- Liverpool 5–1 Eintracht Frankfurt
- PSV Eindhoven 6–2 Napoli
- Chelsea 5–1 Ajax
- Bayern Munich 4–0 Club Brugge
- Inter Milan 4–0 Union Saint-Gilloise
Set piece delivers again for Arsenal as Liverpool regain form
In a statement win, Arsenal defeated Athletic Madrid 4–0, maintaining their winning start to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 campaign. Gabriel Magalhães' precise header to Declan Rice's free kick set the stage, followed by three more Champions League goals within 13 minutes. While Simeone's side struggled to penetrate the Gunners' defense, Gabriel Martinelli's deliberate shot into the corner doubled the lead before Viktor Gyökeres' brace secured the victory.Liverpool’s ruthless finishing overwhelmed Frankfurt. With a 5–1 win, Liverpool ended their four-match losing streak in all competitions, scoring three goals in the first ten minutes of the first half against an out-of-form Frankfurt. All hope was high when Rasmus Kristensen put the German side ahead, but Hugo Ekitiké's equalizer flipped the momentum. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté scored headers from corners, while Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai secured the emphatic win.
While Liverpool later stole headlines, Manchester City had already made theirs with a 2–0 win against the Spanish side, Villarreal, on Tuesday night. Erling Haaland's finish and Bernardo Silva's header secured the victory.
However, Tottenham maintained their unbeaten run but couldn’t find the back of the net, leaving Monaco with a goalless draw.
Barcelona, PSG, and Madrid show why they are contenders
The French and Spanish giants were in top form as they strengthened bids for early qualification from the group stage. While Barcelona thrashed Olympiacos 6–1 in front of the Camp Nou crowd, PSG produced the most dominant performance of Matchday 3, dismantling Bayer Leverkusen 7–2.Also, Real Madrid edged Juventus 1–0 in a tense encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu. Jude Bellingham's goal kept Madrid perfect and Juventus on two points.
Chelsea and Bayern set new records on Champions League Matchday 3
Chelsea’s 5–1 humiliation of Ajax came with a touch of history. The London side became the first club in Champions League history to have three different teenagers (Guiu, Estevão, and George) on the scoresheet in a single match. Eighteen minutes into the match, Guiu opened the scoresheet for the London side, and Moises Caicedo extended the gap with a deflected shot from outside the box.Meanwhile, Ajax briefly threatened a comeback after former Manchester United forward Wout Weghorst converted from the spot, but that didn’t last. A reckless challenge on Enzo Fernández gifted Chelsea a penalty, which the Argentine converted to restore control. Subsequently, Estevao’s penalty and George’s goals capped off the historic night for the two-time European champions.
Elsewhere, Lennart Karl became Bayern's youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer as the Bundesliga champions maintained a 100% winning start to the season. His breakthrough strike set the stage before Harry Kane, Luis Díaz, and Nickolas Jackson added their own finishing touches to a convincing victory.
Galatasaray celebrated back-to-back Champions League wins
Not to be left out, Galatasaray secured consecutive victories in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 for the first time in 13 years. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen set the tone with a brace before Yunus Akgün’s finish sealed a 3–1 victory over Bodø/Glimt, adding another headline to this week’s football talking points.Losers and surprises of Matchday 3
Atlético Madrid’s collapse against Arsenal and Napoli’s woes in Eindhoven stood out among the disappointments. Tottenham’s goalless draw and Juventus’s narrow loss also left fans surprised, keeping discussions alive among this week’s football talking points.Looking ahead to Champions League matchday 4
As football fans turn attention to Matchday 4, the pressure is mounting. Teams that slipped up this week will be eager to bounce back, while those in top form will also want to maintain and improve their grip. With the groups still wide open and attacking momentum building, supporters can expect more Champions League goals, surprises, and turning points.Champions League matchday 3 full results (October 21–22, 2025)
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
- Barcelona 6–1 Olympiacos
- Kairat Almaty 0–0 Pafos
- Arsenal 4–0 Atlético de Madrid
- Leverkusen 2–7 Paris Saint-Germain
- Copenhagen 2–4 Borussia Dortmund
- Newcastle United 3–0 Benfica
- PSV Eindhoven 6–2 Napoli
- Union Saint-Gilloise 0–4 Inter
- Villarreal 0–2 Manchester City
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
- Athletic Club 3–1 Qarabağ
- Galatasaray 3–1 Bodø/Glimt
- Monaco 0–0 Tottenham
- Atalanta 0–0 Slavia Praha
- Chelsea 5–1 Ajax
- Frankfurt 1–5 Liverpool
- Bayern München 4–0 Club Brugge
- Real Madrid 1–0 Juventus
- Sporting CP 2–1 Marseille
Read all the UEFA Champions League matchday 3 results, highlights, and record-breaking stats from the 2025/26 season.