Premier League Giant-Slayers 👀

October 4, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Lens & Galatasaray Stun Premier League Powers Arsenal & Man. United in Matchday 2 of Champions League

The group stage of the UEFA Champions League is typically short-lived for teams like Lens or Galatasaray, despite their storied history in their own domestic leagues within France and Turkey. They usually wouldn’t stand a chance to make it to the Knockout Stage, and securing one-point draws against Premier League powerhouses is usually a great result. But forget draws. These underdogs were out for blood on Tuesday in Matchday 2 of the Champions League. While Inter, Real Madrid, and Bayern — three European titans from Italy, Spain, and Germany — all narrowly escaped upsets with one-goal wins, it was an ugly day for the Premier League powers. Galatasaray (Turkey) upended Manchester United (3-2) with two goals in the final 20 minutes, and Lens (France) hunted down Arsenal (2-1) with a comeback of their own.

There are six matchdays in the group stage, but Man-U is 0-0-2 (0 points) and facing an uphill climb. What a day for Europe’s underdogs. More action today.

Champions League Highlights (Matchday 2)

Inter def. Benfica (1-0)

Bayern def. Copenhagen (2-1)

Real Madrid def. Napoli (3-2)

Galatasary def. Man. United (3-2)

Lens def. Arsenal (2-1)

Today’s Schedule

Dortmund vs. AC Milan (3:00 pm ET)

Newcastle vs. PSG (3:00 pm ET)

RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City (3:00 pm ET)

FC Porto vs. Barcelona (3:00 pm ET)

Full Champions League Schedule

NBC Sports: Lens Stun Arsenal as Gunners Lose Bukayo Saka in France

Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt / Getty Images