Champions League: Federico Valverde lifts Real Madrid over Athens, Erling Haaland rescues Manchester City in drama-filled matchday

The early matches during Wednesday's Champions League fixtures featured two of Europe's biggest clubs and lots of fireworks.In Greece, Real Madrid beat AEK Athens with two goals in 14 minutes late in the second half for a 3-2 victory.Aboubakary Koita put AEK up after 12 minutes — a goal that was answered by Jude Bellingham 20 minutes later with a beautiful back-heel.JUDE BELLINGHAM WITH A STUNNING GOAL 🔥Stream the #UCL on @paramountplus 📺 pic.twitter.com/dk29dAzfhN— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2026 With 15 minutes left, Stavros Pilios started an attack and followed his pass, which helped put him in position to put home the go-ahead goal and have AEK dreaming of a giant-killing. Those hopes were soon dashed. Kylian Mbappé leveled in the 78th minute and Federico Valverde's thunderstrike in the second minute of stoppage time gave Real Madrid the victory.FEDERICO VALVERDE ONLY SCORES BANGERS 🔥Stream the #UCL on @paramountplus 📺 pic.twitter.com/k0TnyOPuj9— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2026 Liverpool lost its first game in the competition 3-2 to Fenerbahçe. A match that was level at halftime thanks to goals from Trey Nyoni and Mason Greenwood exploded into drama over the final 20 minutes.The Reds reclaimed the lead in the 69th minute on Alexander Isak's goal. But that was answered by Fenerbahçe's Archie Brown, who delivered an equalizer four minutes later. The Turkish side wasn't done, however, as they snapped a 10-match winless streak in the Champions League.In the 79th minute, Vedat Muriqi out-muscled three Liverpool players to win a header and beat Alisson for the go-ahead goal and the three points.WHAT A COMEBACK FROM FENERBAHÇE VS. LIVERPOOL 🔥Back-to-back goals from Archie Brown and Vedat Muriqi has the away side stunned 🤯Stream the #UCL on @paramountplus 📺 pic.twitter.com/RKt8FvFhPQ— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2026 Arsenal continues strong start; Erling Haaland saves Manchester City vs. RB LeipzigThe reigning Premier League champions won for the third time in four Champions League matches with a 2-1 win over Slavia Prague on Wednesday.It was a quick start for Mikel Arteta's side when Noni Madueke slid a shot past goalkeeper Nazar Domchak to open the scoring nine minutes into the match. That advantage would be doubled before halftime when Viktor Gyökeres, who set up Madueke's goal, got one of his own after finishing a fine passing sequence with Mikel Merino.Viktor Gyökeres, that is some goal 🔥A goal and an assist already for Arsenal's Swedish striker 👏Stream the #UCL on @paramountplus 📺 pic.twitter.com/VYEPaP8kTX— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2026 The victory moves Arsenal into second place in the table on 10 points. They will play Borussia Dortmund during Matchday 5 on Nov. 24.Arsenal's Premier League rivals Manchester City didn't have as easy a time in securing three points of their own. Enzo Maresca's squad lost two separate leads in the match, but were rescued by Erling Haaland's 78th-minute winner.Elliot Anderson found a sliding Haaland on the far side of the Leipzig box to give Manchester City a lead they wouldn't relinquish.ERLING HAALAND IS INEVITABLE 😤Stream the #UCL on @paramountplus 📺 pic.twitter.com/r1eAVAyrt8— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2026 Como hits for nine against LensComo continued to roll as they trounced Lens 9-1, highlighted by Anastasios Douvikas' hat trick. They are the second club to ever score nine goals in a match in the competition.The Serie A side built a 3-0 lead by halftime and poured on the goals in the second half with six different goal scorers finding the back of the net over the final 45 minutes, including Douvikas.After Nico Paz scored before halftime he celebrated by lifting up a shirt featuring a picture of late Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died following an on-pitch collision on Monday.Nico Paz dedicates his goal to Jesús de Miguel, holding up a shirt in his honor ❤️👕 pic.twitter.com/KNdexY0rKG— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2026 Around the groundsGoals from Nicolo Tresoldi and Carlos Forbs helped Club Brugge edge PSV 2-1. Konstantinos Karetsas' 72nd-minute goal broke a 1-1 deadlock as Borussia Dortmund got by Real Betis 2-1. Three goals over the final 19 minutes helped Porto take down Napoli 4-1. Viking won its first Champions League match with a 4-1 display over Sabah at home.Wednesday's Champions League resultsFT: AEK Athens 2-3 Real MadridFT: Fenerbahçe 3-2 LiverpoolFT: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real BetisFT: Porto 4-1 NapoliFT: Lens 1-9 ComoFT: PSV 1-2 Club BruggeFT: RB Leipzig 2-3 Manchester CityFT: Slavia Prague 1-2 ArsenalFT: Viking 4-1 SabahHere's how all of the Matchday 4's action played out live:2026-27 Champions League scheduleMatchday 1: Sept. 8-10Matchday 2: Oct. 13-14Matchday 3: Oct. 20-21Matchday 4: Nov. 3-4Matchday 5: Nov. 24-25Matchday 6: Dec. 8-9Matchday 7: Jan. 19-20Matchday 8: Jan. 27Knockout phase playoffs: Feb. 16-17 and 23-24Round of 16: March 9-10 and 16-17Quarterfinals: April 6-7 and 13-14Semifinals: April 27-28 and May 4-5Final: June 5 (Madrid)