UCL Recap: A Mixed Bag for EPL Sides on Matchday 2 Tuesday

Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool

Victor Osimhen’s penalty sealed a 1-0 win for Galatasaray against Liverpool in Istanbul, earning the hosts their first points of the UEFA Champions League campaign while handing the Reds a second successive defeat in all competitions.

Liverpool, already reeling from their Premier League loss at Crystal Palace, were put under pressure early as Alisson denied Barış Yılmaz in a one-on-one. Minutes later, Cody Gakpo saw an effort cleared off the line before Szoboszlai’s foul on Yılmaz gave Galatasaray a spot-kick. Osimhen smashed it down the middle for his sixth goal in as many games against English opposition.

The Reds threatened through Florian Wirtz before Alisson was forced off injured after blocking another Osimhen chance. Replacement Giorgi Mamardashvili was later introduced alongside Salah, Isak and Bradley, but Liverpool’s late penalty award was overturned by VAR. Eight minutes of stoppage time changed nothing, leaving Arne Slot’s side winless in three away trips to Galatasaray.

Chelsea 1-0 Benfica

Chelsea claimed their first UCL win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Benfica at Stamford Bridge, extending José Mourinho’s winless run against his former club to eight matches.

The visitors began brightly, with Lukébakio striking the post. Chelsea responded when Neto’s delivery forced Richard Ríos into an own goal after Garnacho’s knock-down. Tyrique George missed a chance to double the lead before half-time.

Benfica pressed after the restart, but their attacks lacked precision. Chelsea nearly added a second through Estêvão’s header, while João Pedro’s stoppage-time red card reduced the Blues to ten men. Despite that setback, Mauricio Pochettino’s side saw out the win to maintain a perfect record against Benfica (five wins in five).

Bodø/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham

Tottenham escaped with a late 2-2 draw against Bodø/Glimt in Norway, denying the hosts their first-ever UCL victory.

The home side dominated early and missed a golden chance when Kasper Høgh fired a penalty over after Bentancur’s foul. Jens Petter Hauge then opened the scoring after the break with a superb curler, before doubling his tally in the 66th minute with a fierce strike.

Spurs hit back when Micky van de Ven headed in from Pedro Porro’s cross. In stoppage time, Gundersen’s own goal handed the Premier League side an unlikely equaliser after Wilson Odobert had struck the bar.