In an impressive showcase, Karim Adeyemi stole the spotlight by scoring a hat-trick, leading Borussia Dortmund to a dominating 7-1 win over Celtic. This remarkable achievement makes Adeyemi the first Dortmund player to score a first-half hat-trick in European competition since 2002, and he’s only the second German player to reach this milestone in a Champions League game.
Dortmund set the pace early, with Emre Can converting a penalty just seven minutes into the match. Celtic quickly responded when Daizen Maeda found the net in the ninth minute, igniting hopes for a close contest.
However, Adeyemi took charge shortly after, netting his first two goals in the 11th and 29th minutes to extend Dortmund’s lead. Serhou Guirassy then added another from the penalty spot, bringing the score to 4-1 before Adeyemi completed his hat-trick just before halftime. The second half saw Dortmund’s rampage continue, with Guirassy and Felix Nmecha each contributing goals, capping the lopsided scoreline.
In another thrilling encounter, Bayer Leverkusen ended a frustrating streak of five consecutive winless home games against Italian teams, thanks to Victor Boniface’s decisive goal that led them to a 1-0 victory over AC Milan. After having an earlier goal called back for offside, Boniface found the net in the 51st minute by pouncing on a rebound from Jeremie Frimpong’s shot, securing the crucial advantage.
Despite a strong push from AC Milan, particularly from Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana, Leverkusen’s goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky, delivered some critical saves to preserve their lead. Samuel Chukwueze made a brief appearance for Milan in the 80th minute, while Nathan Tella stepped onto the pitch for Leverkusen in the closing moments.
This victory marks Leverkusen’s second win in the Champions League this season, following a 4-0 rout of Feyenoord last month. Meanwhile, AC Milan has encountered their second defeat after losing to Liverpool in their opener.
With the Champions League action heating up, fans are eagerly looking forward to today’s matchups, featuring Girona against Feyenoord, Shakhtar versus Atalanta, and Liverpool taking on Bologna.
