Ajax produced a dominant showing to rout Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in Amsterdam, maintaining their 100% record in the Champions League and putting the Dutch champions in control of Group C.
The hosts went in front when Dusan Tadic’s free-kick deflected in off Dortmund’s Marco Reus, who was credited with the own goal. Daley Blind doubled the lead with a half-volley from the edge of the area in the 25th minute, and Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel produced several saves to keep the scoreline respectable at half-time.
Erling Haaland struck the crossbar for the visitors soon after the restart but Ajax quickly regained control of the match, and the winger Antony made it three with a curling left-footed finish. Sébastian Haller headed home the fourth in the 72nd minute from Blind’s cross – the former West Ham striker’s sixth goal in three group-stage matches.
In the early kick-off in Group C, Sporting boosted their hopes of reaching the last 16 with an emphatic 4-1 win against Besiktas in Istanbul. Sébastian Coates scored twice with first-half headers before Pablo Sarabia struck from the penalty spot. Paulinho completed the scoring with a fine finish in the dying moments.
Real Madrid bounced back from their shock defeat by Sheriff Tiraspol with a 5-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk in Kyiv. Zinedine Zidane’s side led 1-0 at half-time after Serhiy Kryvtsov sliced in a Lucas Vázquez cross beyond his own goalkeeper for a spectacular 37th-minute own goal. In the second half, Vinícius Júnior put the game beyond Shakhtar with two stunning goals in five minutes – converting Luka Modric’s fine through ball before an individual effort, with the Brazilian dribbling past three defenders. Vinícius set up his compatriot Rodrygo for the fourth before Karim Benzema added a fifth in stoppage time.
Internazionale denied Sheriff another upset, prevailing 3-1 at San Siro to earn their first win in Group D – Edin Dzeko volleyed Inter in front, but Sébastien Thill produced another moment of magic, equalising with a long-range free kick. Dzeko set up Arturo Vidal to quickly fired Inter back in front before Stefan de Vrij sealed a vital win with a near-post finish from a cornergetting the goals.
It was another disappointing night for Inter’s local rivals as Milan lost 1-0 in Porto. Luis Díaz scored the winner midway through the second half for Porto, who created a number of chances before the Colombian’s strike. Milan appealed for a foul in the build-up but neither the referee or VAR agreed, and Stefano Pioli’s side remain without a point after three Group B games.
