Matchday 4 of the Champions League is over, and eight matches brought us 27 total goals. Arsenal needed a win and instead got demolished, while Chelsea may have saved Jose Mourinho's job (for now) with late magic. Here are the results and three things to know.
All Wednesday's #UCL results... Game of the night was _______ ? pic.twitter.com/hxvuiNU39c
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 4, 2015
1. Mourinho lives to see another day at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea won for just the second time in its last nine matches with a 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev, as Willian's brilliant late free kick gave the Blues three vital points. Chelsea was a bit fortunate though, needing an own goal to take the lead in the first half before allowing the equalizer in the second half. The team still lacked creativity on the ball and was far from energetic. A loss, even a draw, could have meant the end for manager Jose Mourinho at the club, so this win could be worth more than three points.
Full-time: Chelsea 2-1 Dynamo Kiev! #CFC #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/XBTSiZcIk9
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 4, 2015
2. Barcelona can continue to rest Messi
The recent great form without the injured Lionel Messi continued on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over BATE. Neymar scored twice and Luis Suarez added another as Barca stayed on top of Group E. Barca is now five points clear of second-place Roma, which is great news for a Messi-less Barca squad. They'll slowly attempt to bring Messi back into the fold, most likely next month. Even if Messi isn't ready to return in a month, the club can probably afford to rest Messi and continue to lean on Neymar and Suarez the final two matches of the group stage as Barcelona is a sure-fire bet to advance.
FULL-TIME: Neymar brace sandwiches Suárez score, Barça top BATE at #CampNou! Final: FCB 3–0 BATE #FCBLive #FCBBate pic.twitter.com/jtLaiGL7WP
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 4, 2015
3. Arsenal's hopes of advancing have evaporated
Arsenal shocked soccer fans with its win over Bayern Munich on Matchday 3, but that meant little if the Gunners didn't get a good result in Munich on Wednesday. They didn't, as they were crushed 5-1. Thanks to a 2-1 victory for Olympiacos over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, Arsenal is now in last place and six points back of the two leaders (Bayern Munich, Olympiacos) with two matches to go. All that's really left to fight for is a spot in the Europa League. Not what Arsenal fans expected after the UCL draw.
