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Jude Bellingham after his goal
Photo: MIGUEL VIDAL / REUTERS
Real Madrid have their sights firmly set on the round of 16, while Manchester United and Arsenal celebrated important but close victories. It will be bitter for Benfica Lisbon and coach Roger Schmidt. The overview of Tuesday night's Champions League matches.
Manchester United sent a sign of life in the Champions League and kept the chance of progressing alive with their redemptive first win of the season. Bayern Munich's group opponents won 1-0 (0-0) against FC Copenhagen – goalkeeper André Onana saved a foul penalty in injury time and held on to the victory. After three games, United are now third in Group A with three points.
The match in Manchester was marked by mourning for the late English football icon Bobby Charlton. Before kick-off, team manager Erik ten Hag carried a wreath of flowers onto the pitch.
After a minute's silence, the fans at Old Trafford applauded. Charlton, the 1966 World Cup winner and three-time champion with the Red Devils, passed away on Saturday.
In the Europa League, Sevilla FC won the title again last season, in the Champions League the Spaniards have a harder time. After three games, Sevilla have just two points to their name, which means they are currently third in Group B behind Arsenal and RC Lens.
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There would have been something in it against Arsenal on Tuesday evening. After a poor first half, both teams woke up after the break, Arsenal took a 2-0 lead, but Sevilla came close quickly. After that, the Spaniards had a few chances, but they missed them.
Real Madrid didn't shine, but that won't matter to the Whites. Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham scored for the Spaniards, but Braga's follow-up goal was not enough. Bellingham, who arrived from Dortmund in the summer, once again underlined his value for the Madrid side with his third goal of the season in the Champions League, who are on their way to the round of 16 with three wins from three games.
RC Lens is one of the positive surprises of the Champions League season. After the 1-1 (0-0) draw against PSV Eindhoven, the French side are in second place behind Arsenal in Group B. Even more could have been achieved against the Dutch, after falling behind, Lens turned up the heat, but missed chance after chance.
Roger Schmidt and Benfica, meanwhile, have to worry more than ever about staying in a European cup competition. The Portuguese disappointed against San Sebastian, who secured victory with a minimalist performance and are top of Group D with seven points. They are followed by Inter Milan (seven) and Salzburg (three). Benfica are still without a point and are therefore last.
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