In their first encounter since 2003, AC Milan earned their first UEFA Champions League win of the season, defeating a 10-man Club Brugge 3-1. This marked the visitors’ second loss in three league phase matches.Despite Milan’s inconsistent form this season (four wins, two draws, four losses), the early moments saw the Rossoneri on the back foot. Club Brugge started aggressively, creating several chances and forcing goalkeeper Mike Maignan into action. The closest call came within the first 10 minutes, as Joel Ordonez’s powerful shot crashed against the crossbar. However, Milan gradually took control and turned the game in their favor just after the 30-minute mark when Christian Pulisic’s crafty corner kick deceived the opposition and found its way into the net.The match’s dynamic shifted dramatically moments later when referee Felix Zwayer sent off Raphael Onyedika for a high challenge on Tijjani Reijnders, reducing Brugge to 10 men before halftime. Despite being a man down, Nicky Hayen’s side showed resilience, equalizing just six minutes into the second half. Kyriani Sabbe netted a calm finish into the bottom corner after receiving a precise pass from Christos Tzolis inside the box.Stunned by the equalizer, AC Milan responded swiftly. Manager Paulo Fonseca’s decision to bring on Noah Okafor in the 60th minute had an immediate impact. The Swiss forward burst down the left wing and delivered a perfect pass to Reijnders, who slotted home a first-time shot from close range, putting Milan back in the lead. Reijnders, determined to make amends for his recent red card against Udinese, added a second goal to his tally with a well-placed low shot following a precise assist from Samuel Chukwueze.Reijnders’ second-half brace sealed the win for the Rossoneri, giving them a much-needed boost in their European campaign as they chase a long-awaited Champions League title, 18 years after their last triumph. For Club Brugge, it was a disappointing end to their five-match unbeaten run in Champions League away games, and they also failed to keep a clean sheet against Milan for the first time in three visits to the San Siro.Elsewhere, Monaco maintained their unbeaten run in the competition with a commanding 5-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade at Stade Louis II, marking the Serbian side’s third consecutive defeat in the competition.Monaco started aggressively, taking control of the game from the first whistle. They nearly found an early breakthrough when Caio Henrique’s dangerous inswinging corner found an unmarked Thilo Kehrer in the six-yard box, but the defender’s misdirected header bounced wide. The visitors continued to struggle with set-pieces, as another corner delivery saw Breel Embolo’s header narrowly miss the target. After sustained pressure, Monaco broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. Takumi Minamino exploited a defensive lapse, beating the offside trap to calmly place the ball into the bottom corner.Monaco’s early lead seemed to cause them to relax, giving Red Star a chance to respond. Five minutes later, Kehrer’s reckless challenge on Cherif Ndiaye led to a penalty. Ndiaye converted from the spot with composure, igniting the visiting fans’ celebrations. The game appeared to be heading to halftime tied at 1-1, but in stoppage time, Embolo capitalized on a fortunate deflection, swivelling to volley past Marko Ilić and restore Monaco’s lead.Monaco came out with even greater intensity after the break and quickly extended their advantage. Wilfried Singo unleashed a 30-yard rocket that sailed into the top corner, making it 3-1 just minutes after the restart. Embolo thought he had added a fourth, but VAR ruled it out. However, he was instrumental in setting up Monaco’s fourth goal, assisting Minamino for his second of the night with 20 minutes left. The hosts weren’t finished and continued to press, adding a fifth in the dying moments of stoppage time when Maghnes Akliouche found the net to round off a dominant performance.With this victory, Monaco now sits comfortable with seven points from their first three matches, positioning themselves as early favorites to progress. In contrast, Red Star Belgrade’s hopes of advancing hang by a thread, with all three of their group-stage games ending in defeat. They will likely need a positive result in their next match against Barcelona to keep their Champions League aspirations alive.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – ROUND 3TuesdayAC Milan – Club Brugge 3-1 (1-0)/Pulisic 34, Reijnders 61, 71 – Sabbe 51/Monaco – Crvena Zvezda 5-1 (2-1)/Minamino 21, 70, Embolo 45+4, Singo 54, Akliouche 90+6 – Ndiaye 27 pen/22:00: (1.10) Arsenal (11.0) Shakhtar (18.0)22:00: (1.62) Aston Villa (3.80) Bologna (5.80)22:00: (1.20) Girona (8.00) Slovan B. (14.0)22:00: (1.87) Juventus (3.50) Stuttgart (4.20)22:00: (1.45) PSG (4.50) PSV (7.00)22:00: (1.50) Real Madrid (4.40) Dortmund (6.50)22:00: (8.00) Sturm (4.70) Sporting (1.40)Wednesday19:45: (1.45) Atalanta (4.50) Celtic (7.00)19:45: (6.25) Brest (4.70) Leverkusen (1.48)22:00: (1.53) Atl.Madrid (4.00) Lille (6.75)22:00: (2.40) Barcelona (3.60) Bayern (2.80)22:00: (1.62) Benfica (3.90) Feyenoord (5.60)22:00: (1.07) Man.City (13.0) Sparta Praha (25.0)22:00: (4.00) RB Leipzig (3.60) Liverpool (1.90)22:00: (1.75) Salzburg (3.60) Dinamo Zagreb (4.90)22:00: (8.00) Young Boys (4.70) Inter Milan (1.40)***odds are subject to change***
