Five Things We Learned from This Week’s Champions League Action

Five major takeaways from the Champions League drama, highlighting Victor Osimhen’s form, Arsenal’s growing chances, and Conor Bradley’s emergence.

Osimhen shows what Europe’s giants missed
Last summer’s transfer window was chaotic for teams searching for reliable strikers. Clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle all spent heavily — yet somehow, Victor Osimhen wasn’t seriously pursued, even though he was available.

Galatasaray took advantage, spending around £66 million to secure the Nigerian forward, and they’ve been rewarded handsomely. Osimhen has already scored nine goals in 11 games this season, including six in the Champions League — the most in the tournament so far. His hat-trick against Ajax made it eight consecutive European matches with a goal, taking his overall record to 15 goals in 20 appearances for three different clubs.

Given his strength, pace, and consistency, it’s remarkable that no Premier League team moved for him last summer. Osimhen continues to prove he’s one of the most dependable goalscorers in Europe.

Bradley shines at the perfect time
Conor Bradley couldn’t have picked a better moment to step up for Liverpool. On the same night Trent Alexander-Arnold made his long-awaited Anfield return, Bradley produced a standout performance at right-back.

Up against Vinicius Junior, one of the world’s best wingers, the 22-year-old won all his tackles and eight duels, displaying incredible composure and determination. While Bradley might not have Alexander-Arnold’s passing range, his defensive grit and energy make him a fan favorite — and possibly Liverpool’s right-back for the next generation.

Underdogs thriving in the new Champions League format
The Champions League’s new structure has created more balanced matchups, allowing smaller clubs to shine instead of being routinely outclassed by Europe’s elites.

Cypriot champions Pafos, a club founded in 2014, have earned five points from four games, including three clean sheets and a crucial win over Villarreal. Meanwhile, Qarabag from Azerbaijan continue to impress — after earning their first-ever Champions League victory earlier in the season, they’ve now picked up seven points, including a stunning draw with Chelsea.

The new format has opened the door for ambitious clubs to compete on equal footing, proving that Europe’s biggest stage isn’t only for the established giants.

Arsenal look like true contenders
For years, Arsenal’s European record has been their biggest weakness, but Mikel Arteta’s side seems ready to change that narrative. Four games into the Champions League phase, they’ve yet to concede a goal — extending their clean-sheet run across all competitions to eight matches.

Arsenal look organized, powerful on set pieces, and confident in every department. The defensive stability paired with an efficient attack suggests that this could finally be the year they make a deep run in Europe.

Haaland adds another record to his name
It’s become a weekly occurrence — Erling Haaland breaks another record. The Norwegian striker was at it again against Borussia Dortmund, scoring in Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over his former team.

That goal made Haaland the first player in Champions League history to score in five consecutive games for three different clubs: Red Bull Salzburg, Dortmund, and City. With 54 goals in just 52 appearances, he now ranks ninth on the all-time Champions League scoring list — a remarkable feat for a player still in his mid-20s.