Liverpool’s Istanbul curse struck again, Real Madrid left it late again and Como hit NINE in France. Matchday 4 delivered records, teenage milestones and another reminder to keep watching Madrid until the final whistle.
1. Como hit a historic nine
Como’s astonishing 9-1 victory at Lens equalled the Champions League’s biggest winning margin, matching Liverpool’s 8-0 against Besiktas and Real Madrid’s 8-0 against Malmo. It also established a new record for the competition’s biggest away win. Some introduction from the debutants.
2. Nyoni joins Liverpool’s teenage elite
Trey Nyoni’s first Liverpool goal made him their second-youngest Champions League scorer, behind Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 19-year-old opened the scoring at Fenerbahce, adding a European milestone to a week that also brought his first Premier League start.
3. Five trips, five defeats in Istanbul
Istanbul once delivered Liverpool’s greatest European comeback. Since lifting the trophy there in 2005, however, they have lost all five Champions League visits to the city. Fenerbahce joined Galatasaray and Besiktas in extending that miserable sequence.
4. Madrid’s fourth late escape
Federico Valverde’s 92nd-minute winner against AEK Athens gave Real Madrid their fourth winning goal in the 90th minute or later this season. Espanyol, Elche and Roma had already suffered the same late punishment.
5. Mbappe makes it six
Kylian Mbappe has scored in six consecutive Champions League appearances, equalling his personal best. His current sequence stretches back to April’s Bayern Munich quarter-final ties and matches the six-game scoring run he produced for Paris Saint-Germain between November 2021 and September 2022.
6. Vinicius draws another blank
Vinicius Junior has gone six Real Madrid appearances without a goal or assist. Elche, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Roma, RB Leipzig and AEK Athens have all faced the Brazilian during that barren spell.
7. Only two teams remain perfect
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are the only teams with four wins from four. Aston Villa, Liverpool and Real Betis all surrendered their perfect records with away defeats on Matchday 4.
8. Paz matches Messi
Nico Paz already has five assists this campaign, matching Lionel Messi’s 2008-09 total, the benchmark for an Argentine under 23 in a Champions League season. The Como playmaker still has half the league phase remaining.
9. Mourinho’s narrow advantage
Jose Mourinho’s 69.2% Champions League win rate as Real Madrid manager leads the club’s coaches with at least 10 matches in charge. Carlo Ancelotti sits just behind on 68.8%.
10. Four familiar faces haunt Liverpool - the uncs
Fenerbahce’s starting XI featured four former Premier League players aged 32 or older: Nelson Semedo, 32, Ederson and Romelu Lukaku, both 33, and N’Golo Kante, 35. All four started the Turkish side’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool.
