Aston Villa - The atmosphere at Villa Park was electric as Aston Villa secured a memorable victory over Bayern Munich. For the German powerhouse, this marked their first group-stage defeat since 2017, raising questions about Vincent Kompany's coaching acumen at this level. However, credit must go to Villa's manager, Unai Emery, who once again outmaneuvered Kompany, much like he did with Burnley in the Premier League last season. On Wednesday night, it was Emi Martínez who stole the show, outperforming Manuel Neuer. Just like in the 1982 European Cup final, Villa triumphed 1-0 over Bayern. The decisive goal was scored by Jhon Durán, whose first-time finish left Neuer stranded. Durán, who was almost sold in the summer, has now scored six times this season, five of which came as a substitute. The Colombian, formerly of Chicago Fire, has proven to be a valuable addition to Villa's already formidable forward line.
Lille - Ligue 1 is showing signs of resurgence, with Lille delivering one of their finest performances in European football. Their victory over Real Madrid was sealed by Jonathan David's composed penalty. Rémy Cabella orchestrated the midfield, and Lille deservedly emerged as winners against the defending champions. Despite Kylian Mbappé's late introduction, Real Madrid could not find a way through.
Brest - Brest's maiden European campaign continues to be a fairytale, with a 4-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg. Abdallah Sima, on loan from Brighton, scored twice in a dominant display. Brest's next opponents, Leverkusen, should be on alert.
Celtic - Celtic's hopes of making the top 24 are under threat after a 7-1 thrashing by Borussia Dortmund. Brendan Rodgers' record in Europe's elite competition is once again under scrutiny.
Young Boys - The Swiss champions suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Barcelona, highlighting the challenges faced by smaller clubs in the new format of the group stage.
Atlético Madrid - Atlético Madrid's struggles on the road continued with a 4-0 loss to Benfica. The absence of key player Robin Le Normand due to injury was a significant factor.
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) - Pep Guardiola used the match against Slovan Bratislava to experiment with his squad, with Jérémy Doku delivering a record-breaking performance.
Mehdi Taremi (Inter) - Inter's success in Serie A is partly due to their shrewd recruitment, with Mehdi Taremi proving to be a valuable addition.
Francisco Conceição (Juventus) - Juventus, under Thiago Motta, are showing signs of a return to form, with Francisco Conceição playing a key role in their recent comeback victory.
