There were some upsets on the radar to go with some of the usual expected blowouts as the group stage of the UEFA Champions League danced its way through Wednesday night in Europe.
Real Madrid trounced Liverpool, while their crosstown neighbors throttled Malmo and Borussia Dortmund went nuts on Galatasaray.
As for Arsenal? Read on.
We are at the halfway point in Groups A-D, and some English clubs are concerned about their fortunes to be sure.
[RELATED: UCL news | Standings | Champions League schedule]
GROUP A
Atletico Madrid 5-0 Malmo
A sleepy first half for the hosts was quickly awakened by Koke in the 48th, followed Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann goals two minutes apart in the 61st and 63rd. Atleti is second to Olympiakos on head-to-head, as both clubs have six points.
Olympiakos 1-0 Juventus
Former Fulham hitman Pajtim Kasami scored 35 minutes in, and that goal held up. Juve and Malmo each have three points, and sit a win behind Olympiakos and Atleti.
GROUP B
Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid RECAP
Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 Basel
Bulgarian defender Veselin Minev buried a ball in the 90th minute to lift the hosts, as the visitors nearly waited out a red card for a point. Ludo, Liverpool and Basel are all even on three points to Madrid’s nine.
GROUP C
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Zenit St. Petersburg
Goals in the 58th and 63rd made it seem easy, but a 73rd minute red card to Wendell meant Bayer was waiting for the bell.
Monaco 0-0 Benfica
No magic from Berbatov for the hosts, who couldn’t score despite a red card to Benfica’s Pereira Dos Santos. Maybe Falcao should’ve stayed.
GROUP D
Galatsasaray 0-4 Borussia Dortmund
Jurgen Klopp’s club may be struggling in the Bundesliga, but he’s rolling through the UCL again. Aubameyang has a brace for the visitors.
Anderlecht 1-2 Arsenal RECAP
