UEFA Champions League

BARCELONA — Barcelona captain Raphinha scored a hat-trick to lead them to a commanding 4-1 home victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, ending a near decade-long winless run against the German powerhouse.

After six consecutive losses in which they were outscored 22 goals to four by Bayern, including a humiliating 8-2 defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals four years ago, Barcelona got their revenge with a great attacking performance led by their Brazilian captain.

Barcelona vs Bayern highlights

MADRID — Real Madrid fought back from two goals down as Vinicius Jr grabbed a hat-trick in a thrilling 5-2 win over visitors Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday.

In a rematch of last-season's final, Dortmund lit up the game with a two-goal blitz around the half-hour mark from Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens to silence the Bernabeu crowd.

However, the champions were livelier after the break and broke Dortmund's resistance with Antonio Rüdiger's header on the hour before Vinicius equalized with a close-range strike.

The Christian Pulisic Olimpico goal vs. Club Brugge saw the AC Milan star find the back of the net in the most peculiar of ways.

Milan were on the backfoot in the first half as a feisty Brugge side had several quality chances to take the lead. The Italian giants needed something special and who better to count on than their man in form, Pulisic.

In the 34th minute Pulisic swung in a corner kick that somehow avoided everyone and crossed the line. A Brugge defender tried to clear the ball but was too late.

Pulisic Olimpico goal vs. Brugge

Juventus pulled off a dramatic comeback vs. RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday to win 3-2 despite being a player down. The club’s winning goal came after a brilliant Weston McKennie tackle on Leipzig star Xavi Simons.

In the closing minutes of the game Leipzig looked to have a dangerous counterattack on their hands with Simons leading the charge. McKennie, who had played the entire game, tracked him down and put in a perfect tackle to stop the attack.

Juventus would the go on to score the game winning goal with the possession that McKennie won back.

Borussia Dortmund took down two opponents on Tuesday during the Champions League as the players on the field destroyed Celtic 7-1 and the fans in the stands blasted UEFA with a strong message.

Prior to the game Dortmund fans made their voices heard with a massive tifo and banner denouncing the new Champions League format being used this season.

UEFA expanded the competition from 32 teams to 36 and got rid of the six-game group stage, replacing it with a league table. Each club will now play eight games in the initial phase.

BERGAMO — Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya secured his side a hard-earned point with a sensational penalty save in a 0-0 draw away to Atalanta in their Champions League opener on Thursday.

Spaniard Raya dived low to his right to beat out Mateo Retegui's spot kick in the 51st minute then sprang across his goal to claw away the forward's follow up header.

David Raya double save vs Atalanta

Brazil and Real Madrid phenom Endrick made his Champions League debut on Tuesday and made it a memorable one as he scored in a 3-1 victory vs. Stuttgart.

Endrick was substituted into the game for Jude Bellingham in the 80th minute and scored 15 minutes later in stoppage time to secure the win. 

A Real Madrid counterattack saw the 18-year-old ignore the options of passing the ball to either Kylian Mbappé or Vini Jr. as he took the opportunity himself from 30 yards out.

Christian Pulisic scored the opener of AC Milan’s 3-1 Champions League defeat against Liverpool on Tuesday as the American punished the Reds yet again.

The latest Pulisic goal vs Liverpool saw the United States men’s national team forward strike less than three minutes into the contest. Pulisic had a great run down the right side before arrowing a low shot to the bottom corner.

Pulisic goal vs Liverpool

CHRISTIAN PULISIC STRIKES TO SEND THE SAN SIRO INTO A FRENZY!

U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie scored his first goal for Juventus in 693 days as he struck in their Champions League opener vs. PSV on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game was a surprise start for the American as he had only featured in one of Juve’s previous four games, starting none of them.

In the 27th minute McKennie was poaching in front of the PSV goal and made no mistake when given the opportunity from close range.

McKennie goal vs PSV