In Brussels, under the glare of European ambition, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise bore the brunt of a ruthless Newcastle United side, conceding a 4-0 defeat that will sting long after the final whistle.
The Magpies stamped their authority early, with Nick Woltemade diverting a fierce Sandro Tonali shot into the net in the 17th minute, giving Newcastle the foothold they would never relinquish. From there the floodgates opened: Anthony Gordon dispatched two penalties—one just before the break, the other after a VAR check in the second half—and Harvey Barnes sealed the emphatic rout in the 80th minute with a counterattack finish.
Newcastle controlled the spine of the match, middle of the park and flanks alike, turning the game into a showcase of ruthless efficiency. Union SG, who arrived with promise after a strong domestic run, were caught off guard by the intensity and fluidity of the visiting side.
Their occasional forays forward were easily repelled, and the home crowd could only watch as the scoreboard spiraled against them. The defensive lapse that led to Gordon’s first penalty was symptomatic: under high pressure, Union’s cohesion buckled. Newcastle’s clean sheet and dominant display offered praise to their tactical discipline, but also raised questions about Union’s ability to compete on Europe’s big stage.
Across the continent in North London, Arsenal took on Olympiacos Piraeus in what felt like both a statement and a relief. The Gunners had carried a lingering fear of Greek visitors ever since poor memories had piled up at the Emirates, but tonight they exorcised that with a 2-0 win.
Gabriel Martinelli converted a rebound in the 12th minute, set up after a deflected Viktor Gyokeres effort. For long stretches, Olympiacos weathered the storm, pressing and probing with intent, but Arsenal’s experience and composure prevailed. In stoppage time, Bukayo Saka rifled home a second, ensuring no late drama would mar the result.
Arsenal were tested when Olympiacos had a goal disallowed for offside, and the visitors threatened to make life uncomfortable several times. But David Raya stood firm in goal, and the Gunners navigated through periods of uneasy possession to maintain control.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to rotate his squad showcased the depth he trusts—a necessity in a congested campaign. More than just an important three points, this win shattered a stubborn mental block. It affirmed Arsenal’s desire to assert dominance not just domestically, but in Europe too.
In Dortmund, Borussia dispatched Athletic Bilbao with a commanding 4-1 win, though not without moments of discomfort. Dortmund’s early breathing room came from Daniel Svensson and Carney Chukwuemeka, whose finishes carved out a two-goal lead.
Bilbao struck back in the 61st minute through Gorka Guruzeta, briefly shifting momentum and putting the hosts on edge. But Serhou Guirassy, returning from injury, diverted a cross into the net to restore the two-goal cushion, and Julian Brandt capped the night in stoppage time with a fourth.
Dortmund flirted with collapse at times, allowing Bilbao to threaten with incisive counters, but the hosts’ composure and clinical finishing kept the night firmly in hand. After a traumatic 4-4 draw with Juventus earlier this campaign, this result felt like redemption—proof that Borussia can respond after moments of chaos.
Bilbao, for their part, fought with intent and gained belief from their spells of menace, but could not sustain a comeback against a side fueled by precision and resilience.
In Naples, Napoli delivered a stirring home performance to edge Sporting CP 2-1 and record their first points in this Champions League group. Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring in the 36th minute after a swift counter built by Kevin De Bruyne, his finish cool and calculating.
Sporting responded when Luis Suárez coolly tucked in a penalty in the 62nd minute, razor-sharp from the spot, pulling the game level. But Hojlund — persistent, lethal — combined again with De Bruyne to restore the lead 11 minutes from time. In a frantic finale, keeper Vanja Milinković-Savić produced a reflex save to deny Sporting a late equalizer.
The Naples crowd had been tinged with tension even before kick-off: violent clashes erupted on the streets between rival fans in the hours leading up to kickoff, forcing police intervention. On the field, the match mirrored that brinkmanship: Napoli, desperate to launch their European campaign, leaned on their attacking cauldron and did just enough to survive Sporting’s restless pressure.
The visitors probed, threw bodies forward, hunted the equalizer, but lacked the decisive cutting edge in the final minutes. That said, Sporting’s penalty offered a brief reminder that they arrived not to roll over, but to fight in every square. For Napoli, this was a boost—not a dominant showcase, but a gritty, crucial three points that may serve as the spark for what they hope can be a successful continental run.