Five talking points ahead of Champions League action, as UEFA’s top club competition prepares for matchday four.
Arsenal wants to equal 122-year-old club record
Arsenal are looking formidable at the moment as the Gunners secured another clean sheet in the Premier League this weekend. Mikel Arteta’s side have not conceded a goal in any competition since September 28, a run of seven consecutive shutouts.
It is the second longest streak in the club’s history, with only an eight-match streak in 1903 bettering the current run. Arsenal can equal that 122-year record on Tuesday evening as they look to maintain their 100% Champions League record in Slavia Prague.
𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 straight clean sheets for Arsenal 🧱 pic.twitter.com/nP61NdOKZc
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 1, 2025
Alexander-Arnold ensures Anfield returns
All eyes will be on Trent Alexander-Arnold on Tuesday evening as the right-back makes his first return to Anfield. The defender’s decision to leave Liverpool irked the fanbase and tarnished the legacy of a player who came through the ranks to shine.
The circumstances surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s departure, which saw his contract expire to join Real Madrid on a reduced fee, have seen his status evaporate for some. He was booed in the closing stages of last season after announcing his departure, even though there was some goodwill towards the 27-year-old when he collected his Premier League winners’ medal in May.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time at Liverpool was simply sensational 😮💨✨ pic.twitter.com/GeGbs1CguJ
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) November 3, 2025
That said, it has only been five months since his departure and the majority at Anfield will have neither forgiven nor forgotten him. Expect a hostile reception for the former favorite if he is picked to start.
The Champions League candidates compete against each other
There is a blockbuster clash at the Parc des Princes as holders Paris Saint-Germain take on Bayern Munich on matchday four. It is a meeting between last season’s champions and, perhaps, the top European team of the moment.
Bayern have won all 15 games this season, but face a PSG team who currently top the league stage on goal difference.
It is a repeat of the 2020 final. The champions of France and Germany. Ousmane Dembele vs Harry Kane. Don’t miss this one.
Can Qarabag upset the odds again?
After three matches, Qarabag is in the qualifying places. Napoli, Juventus and Atletico Madrid are just some of the teams trailing the Azerbaijani team, who have taken six points from a possible nine.
On the first matchday, Qarabag made a stunning comeback to beat Benfica in Portugal and became the first Azerbaijani side to win a Champions League match in the competition proper. A win over Copenhagen followed, before Athletic Bilbao gave the underdogs a reality check last time out.
The next step for Qarabag is a glamor match against Chelsea, who make the 2,500-mile journey to Azerbaijan this week. Another setback would be the biggest win in the club’s history.
Benfica must be afraid of a returning star
Bayer Leverkusen won the race to sign Alejandro Grimaldo from Benfica in 2023, with seemingly little competition. It should not have taken the hindsight to conclude that Leverkusen got a bargain with that free transfer catch.
Grimaldo spent seven and a half years in Lisbon, where he made 303 appearances, four league titles and 48 assists in the Primeira Liga. In Germany it is continued in this way. An inspirational part of Leverkusen’s unbeaten title triumph in the 2023/2024 season, the Spaniard provides consistent quality from full-back.
We can all agree that the “G” in Grimaldo stands for “Goodness, these free kicks are just incredible”, right? 👀 pic.twitter.com/59vnWY3BnM
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) October 30, 2025
Despite massive exits, he has continued to shine this season, with seven goals (4G and 3A) in just eight Bundesliga games. Grimaldo may be a ‘defender’, but he is the most powerful threat for Leverkusen at the moment. Benfica beware of the former favorite.
Read – Five of the best matches between Liverpool and Real Madrid
See more – Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend
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