Champions League reaction: Arsenal, Manchester V

West Ham prepare Zirkee bid

Wednesday's back pages

An interesting transfer line in the I newspaper, which reports that West Ham are preparing a loan move for disgruntled Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkee.

That may well be a question for Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who we are due to hear from at a news conference around 13:30 BST. Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner and Leeds manager Daniel Farke should be speaking around the same time, too.

And around an hour or so later, Sean Dyche will give his first news conference as Nottingham Forest manager.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph joins in the Gyokeres pun fun and also reports on Aston Villa warning fans about political messaging at their match against Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv next month.

How does the Champions League format work?

The Champions League was revamped before the 2024-25 season with a new 36-team phase.

In the expanded tournament each side plays eight different teams - four at home and four away - in the league phase.

Teams who finish in the top eight automatically qualify for the last 16, while those placing ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.

Sides who finish 25th or lower will be eliminated - and will not drop into the Europa League.

get involved

Get Involved - Champions League goal spree

A blockbuster evening in the Champions League and good news for England's representatives.

Nine goals scored, none conceded.

So what did you make of last night's matches? Loved the goal fest? Or are some of these early Champions League matches too one-sided?

As ever, you help make this page, so we want to hear your views. Get in touch using the form at the top of this page.

And as for the revamped Champions League format - hit the thumbs, up if you like it, down if you don't!

Rashford double in Barca rout gives Flick '100% what I want'

Barcelona 6-1 Olympiacos

Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick and Marcus Rashford took his personal tally to four goals from three Champions League games as Barcelona thrashed Olympiacos.

Two smart first-half finishes from Lopez put Barcelona in control, before his third, a Lamine Yamal penalty and a Rashford double halted a short-lived Olympiacos fightback.

"Rashford played well today," said Barcelona boss Hansi Flick.

"It's not easy for him to play that number nine role. The first minutes of the match I guess we were struggling to press, but at the end the chances he had and the penalty he won...

"The important thing is that he scored goals. He's giving me 100% of what I want from him."

Barnes & Gordon fire Newcastle to win over Benfica

Newcastle 3-0 Benfica

Ciaran Kelly

BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon fired Newcastle United to an emphatic victory against Jose Mourinho's Benfica in the Champions League.

The unmarked Gordon opened the scoring in the first half as he calmly sidefooted the ball past Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin at the back post following Jacob Murphy's ball across.

It was Gordon's fourth goal in just three games in the competition and gave Newcastle the platform to push for another after the break.

Barnes went on to double his side's lead after goalkeeper Nick Pope launched an almighty 65-yard throw down the right.

Benfica defender Antonio Silva misjudged it and Barnes raced through before finishing in-off the upright.

There was still time for Barnes to add a third late on after Gordon set up his team-mate, who put the ball through Trubin's legs.

Gyokeres double as Arsenal put four past Atletico

Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid

Alex Howell

BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal scored four goals in 14 minutes as they thrashed Atletico Madrid to continue their perfect start to the league phase of the Champions League.

The Gunners started the game quickly and Eberechi Eze's deflected shot hit the bar in the first half, while Atletico's Julian Alvarez nearly caught out David Raya with a long-range effort while the goalkeeper was stranded outside his area.

The rest of the first half was cagey and that carried on into the second 45 minutes initially, with supporters wondering where the opening would come from.

Centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes answered that question when he headed in Declan Rice's excellent free-kick in the 57th minute.

That started a devastating spell for Arsenal as the home side made their usually solid opponents suffer.

Gabriel Martinelli scored with a curled shot after a driving run from Myles Lewis-Skelly, before striker Viktor Gyokeres bundled in to end his seven-game Arsenal goal drought.

The Sweden international then got his second of the night three minutes later when he converted Gabriel's knockdown from another dangerous Arsenal corner.

Haaland scores again as Man City end winless away run

Villarreal 0-2 Manchester City

Shamoon Hafez

Football news reporter at Estadio de la Ceramica

Erling Haaland found the net for a 12th consecutive game to extend his incredible scoring streak and help Manchester City end their winless away run in the Champions League with victory at Villarreal.

Haaland's blistering form has brought 24 goals in 14 games for club and country this season, and here it helped City claim three points on the road in Europe for the first time in over a year.

The Norwegian's goal to open the scoring was that of a striker with deadly instincts, darting ahead of marker Juan Foyth and converting with a first-time finish from Rico Lewis' low cross.

Pep Guardiola's side dominated the first half and captain Bernardo Silva deservedly doubled the advantage before half-time, planting a free header into the net from Savinho's cross.

Good morning!

What a night it was in the Champions League - goals aplenty and convincing wins for the three English sides involved.

So what better way to cheer yourself up this dark, drizzly morning - that's the scene here in Salford, I can only hope it's better where you are - than to delve into all of last night's excitement.

We'll be looking forward to tonight's matches a bit later as well, plus we'll here from Daniel Farke and Nuno Espirito Santo this afternoon, as well as new Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche.

So settle in and enjoy!

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