UCL: Arsenal earn slim win, Aston Villa top table

Arsenal's Brazilian striker #09 Gabriel Jesus controls the ball in front of Shakhtar Donetsk's Ukrainian goalkeeper #31 Dmytro Riznyk (rear R) during the UEFA Champions League football match between Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium in north London on October 22, 2024 [Credit: AFP]

Arsenal emerged as 1-0 winners at home to Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk, thanks to an own goal from the visitors’ goalkeeper.

Dmytro Riznyk could only grasp at thin air after Gabriel Martinelli cut in from the left and struck the ball against the near post before it rebounded off the goalkeeper and crossed the line.

Leandro Trossard missed a penalty near the end, but Arsenal had already done enough to secure their second win of the tournament.

Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are enjoying an excellent return to European football’s top table after 41 years, as they won their third match in three Champions League outings this term with a 2-0 victory over Bologna.

“We are playing seriously, we are playing focused, responsible, and the team is progressing and maturing in everything,” manager Unai Emery told TNT Sports.

John McGinn opened the scoring at Villa Park 10 minutes after the interval, and Jhon Duran wrapped up the points in the 64th minute, sending Emery’s side to the top of the league phase table on nine points with zero goals conceded.

Stuttgart sank Juventus 1-0 in Turin, thanks to a stoppage-time winner by El Bilal Toure.

The Italians were reduced to 10 men when Danilo picked up a second yellow card while conceding a penalty in the 84th minute.

Mattia Perin looked to have saved his side when he stopped the resulting spot-kick from Enzo Millot, but Toure slammed home in the 92nd minute for Stuttgart.

PSV Eindhoven surprised Paris Saint-Germain with a Noa Lang goal against the run of play in the first half before Achraf Hakimi equalised in the 55th minute to ensure the points were shared.

Monaco won 5-1 at home to Red Star Belgrade, while Sporting Lisbon beat Sturm Graz 2-0 in Austria.

Last season’s Spanish league surprise package Girona picked up their first points in the competition with a 2-0 win at home to Slovan Bratislava.

On Wednesday, five-time winners Barcelona host six-time champions Bayern Munich, and Liverpool visit RB Leipzig.

AFP