Champions League: Bayern Munich and Arsenal share points in 2–2 thriller

Following Paris Saint-Germain’s thrilling 4–2 victory over Barcelona, the third round of the Champions League continued on Wednesday evening with another clash of heavyweights, as Bayern Munich and Arsenal played out an entertaining 2–2 draw. Elsewhere, Real Madrid (4–1 vs. RB Leipzig), Aston Villa (3–1 vs. Viking), and Real Betis (1–0 vs. Feyenoord) maintained their perfect records. Inter Milan claimed their first victory of the campaign, while LASK Linz celebrated a landmark win in Lisbon. Earlier in the day, Como and Galatasaray both put four goals past their respective opponents.

A dramatic encounter at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern Munich extend their unbeaten home record in the group phase of the Champions League to 40 consecutive matches (37 wins, 3 draws). The German giants also became the first team to pierce Arsenal's defense in the competition this season, halting the English side's 14-match winning streak in the league phase.

The visitors started brighter, even after losing Bukayo Saka to an early injury, with substitute Eberechi Eze breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute. However, in the absence of the suspended Michael Olise, Harry Kane took command of Bayern's attack. The England captain set up Alphonso Davies for the equalizer in the 35th minute before converting a 61st-minute penalty, following key saves by both goalkeepers. Rice, Kane's vice-captain on the national team, earned the Gunners a share of the points eight minutes from time.

• 10th minute: Early trouble for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka suffered a non-contact injury and was forced off, replaced by Eberechi Eze.
• 21st minute: Bayern Munich should have opened the scoring on a counter-attack, but a free Serge Gnabry was denied by David Raya.
• 25th minute: GOAL! Martin Odegaard played a brilliant long ball to substitute Eze, who burst down the left flank and fired into the net. VAR confirmed there was no offside - 0–1 Arsenal.
• 35th minute: GOAL! Harry Kane delivered a wonderful through ball to set up Alphonso Davies against Raya. The Canadian, playing in a more advanced position, made no mistake and equalized to make it 1–1.
• 48th minute: A spectacular save by Manuel Neuer right on the goal line denied Bruno Guimaraes' header.
• 50th minute: A huge save by Raya at the other end prevented Dayot Upamecano from completing the comeback.
• 61st minute: GOAL! Konrad Laimer's cross was cleared toward Kane, whose shot hit Timber's hand. The referee pointed to the spot, and Kane converted to make it 2–1, marking his tenth consecutive Champions League match with a goal.
• 82nd minute: GOAL! Substitute Viktor Gyokeres laid the ball off to Declan Rice, who unleashed a strike from a tight angle on the right into the back of the net to level the score at 2–2.

Ahead of the season's first El Clasico, Jose Mourinho watched his side celebrate a third consecutive four-goal display, once again highlighted by stunning strikes. After 43 goalless minutes against Martin Demichelis' side, Bernardo Silva opened the scoring with a close-range tap-in for his debut goal in the iconic white shirt - setting a club record of 45 consecutive home Champions League matches with at least one goal scored.

Arda Guler tapped in a second in the 52nd minute off a Kylian Mbappe header, but the French star later produced a piece of magic of his own, curling a fine shot into the net in the 83rd minute. Tidiam Gomis pulled one back for the visitors before Yan Diomande sealed the victory with a spectacular volley.

• 43rd minute: Kylian Mbappe dribbled through the box and passed to Jude Bellingham, who delivered a low cross. Arda Guler was denied by the keeper, but Bernardo Silva tapped in the rebound for his first Real Madrid goal - 1–0.
• 52nd minute: GOAL! Bellingham crossed into the box, Mbappe headed across goal, and Guler tapped it in from the line to make it 2–0 Real Madrid.
• 83rd minute: GOAL! Substitute Yan Diomande dribbled down the left and set up Mbappe, who curled a mid-height shot from 16 meters into the far corner - 3–0 Real Madrid.
• 85th minute: GOAL! Leipzig's substitutes broke on a counter-attack; Christoph Baumgartner spotted a gap in the defense and fed Tidiam Gomis, who pulled one back - 3–1.
• 87th minute: GOAL! Real launched a counter-attack of their own; Brahim Diaz chipped the ball to Diomande, who unleashed a volleyed rocket from 14 meters into the net - 4–1.

Facing back-to-back losses in their opening two matchdays and missing injured captain Lautaro Martinez, the Italian champions found themselves in further trouble following Alessandro Bastoni's red card in the 69th minute. However, Carlos Augusto came to the rescue in the 77th minute, finishing off a sharp counter-attack despite the numerical disadvantage. The winner was assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had been introduced just two minutes prior. Inter, featuring Djed Spence in his first start, snapped a four-match losing streak in the competition and handed Arda Turan's Shakhtar their first defeat.

• 77th minute: GOAL! Despite Bastoni's ejection eight minutes earlier, Carlos Augusto finished off a counter-attack by slotting the ball through the goalkeeper's legs following Mkhitaryan's pass, securing a 1–0 victory for Inter.
  
  

The Europa League winners have endured a tough start to their domestic campaign, but European competition continues to serve as a welcome respite. Villa maintained their perfect record in the Champions League to remain atop the table on goal difference. Viking, who earned a historic 3–3 home draw against Bayern Munich on Matchday 2, conceded three times while scoring once. Ross Barkley headed home in the 23rd minute, following up his recent brace against Fenerbahce. Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia doubled the lead from the spot in the 37th minute, and Henrik Heggheim turned an Alisson cross into his own net in the 62nd minute. Peter Christiansen netted a late consolation goal for the visitors six minutes from time.

Isco converted his sixth consecutive penalty - and his third in 10 days - in the 59th minute to keep Real Betis perfect in the Champions League. The result ended Feyenoord’s five-match winning streak across all competitions, leaving the Dutch side on three points.

The Austrian champions earned a historic victory in Lisbon powered by their international talent. Luis Suarez put Sporting ahead early from the penalty spot in the 5th minute, but Christoph Lang (15') and Sasa Kalajdzic (63') turned the tide before Czech midfielder Krystof Danek extended the advantage on the counter (68'). Suarez scored his second of the match in the 89th minute to set up a tense finish, but LASK weathered nine minutes of stoppage time to celebrate their historic debut victory in the Champions League.

Building on the momentum of their thrilling 4–3 victory over Inter at the San Siro, the Belgian champions brought their tally to six points with a comfortable victory over Lens. Captain Hans Vanaken led the charge with a goal in first-half stoppage time, defender Jorne Spileers doubled the lead in the 50th minute, and Carlos Forbs sealed the three points in the 72nd minute.

The fourth matchday of the Champions League takes place in two weeks. Highlighting Tuesday’s fixtures (November 3) will be Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich and Barcelona vs. Aston Villa, while the following day features AEK Athens hosting Real Madrid and Fenerbahce taking on Liverpool.