Yamal inspires Barcelona to 4-1 win at Galatasaray, Brugge stun Inter

Lamine Yamal inspired Barcelona to a 4-1 win away to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday, as Arsenal kept up their perfect start and Club Brugge stunned Inter Milan at the San Siro.

Barcelona top the table

Barcelona recovered from a rocky first half in the cauldron of Istanbul’s Ali Sami Yen stadium to take their second win in two matches, lifting them to the top of the table, The Express Tribune reported, citing AFP. Galatasaray have no points.

• 27 minutes: Galatasaray led against the run of play when Aleksei Batrakov’s shot deflected off Joao Cancelo into the corner, after a rapid counter-attack through Rafael Leao
• Before half-time: Cancelo equalised from a Dani Olmo pass after the ball broke from a challenge on Yamal
• 50 minutes: Yamal’s gentle curled cross was headed in by Fermin Lopez
• 53 minutes: Yamal beat Eren Elmali three times in a tiny space and set up Anthony Gordon to score
• 65 minutes: Yamal fired a pass to Gabriel Jesus, and the ball deflected to Karim Adeyemi, who drilled it home

Victor Osimhen had a header ruled out when Baris Yilmaz, who touched the ball over the line, was flagged offside.

“It’s incredible to have players like that,” said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. “He’s turned the game around for us.” Fermin called the 19-year-old “the best in the world”. Yamal, who became Barcelona’s youngest ever captain in the previous round, again took the armband when Pedri was substituted.

Arsenal blitz Lille

Arsenal scored three goals in seven second-half minutes to beat Lille 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, extending their perfect start and moving level at the top with Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon.

Jurrien Timber chipped in the opener just after the hour from Noni Madueke’s pass. Substitutes Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard then changed the game: Saka’s low cross set up Eberechi Eze, whose deflected shot flew into the top corner, and Saka finished off a fine team move from Havertz’s cut-back.

“The ones that finish the game are extraordinary,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud came on late for Lille, who are still without a point.

Brugge shock Inter

Club Brugge’s 22-year-old forward Nicolo Tresoldi scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 win at Inter Milan:

• Before the half-hour: Tresoldi scored a penalty after Hakan Calhanoglu fouled Carlos Forbs
• Just after the hour: he pounced on a goalkeeping blunder
• 75 minutes: he reacted fastest to complete his hat-trick
• 87 minutes: Romeo Vernant added a fourth for Brugge

Lautaro Martinez scored twice for Inter, and Ange-Yoan Bonny pulled one back in stoppage time. Former Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, in the Brugge goal, made an early save from Martinez.

“It was an unbelievable and fantastic night. I dreamt many times of these nights and this was the best dream,” Tresoldi said.

The Italian champions, who lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in their opener, remain on zero points and face Shakhtar Donetsk at home next.

Why it matters

Two rounds in, Barcelona and Arsenal look like the teams to beat, while Inter are already under pressure. Yamal, at 19, keeps showing why he is the player everyone is watching. Read our report on Manchester City’s appeal against the Premier League ruling.

This article draws on reporting by The Express Tribune, AFP and Reuters.