Champions League 2025-26: Madueke and Martinelli clash as Arsenal beat Bruges 3-0

Noni Madueke scored twice, and Gabriel Martinelli added another, as Arsenal continued their perfect run in the Champions League and stayed top of the table with a comfortable 3-0 win against Belgian side Club Brugge on Wednesday.

Arsenal’s sixth win in as many games confirms their place in the top eight, meaning they will skip the knockout stages of the play-offs in February and go straight to the round of 16 in March.

Brugge remains on four points and is in great danger of missing the knockouts.

It was a satisfying evening at the Jan Breydel Stadium for the under-strength Gunners, who lost at Aston Villa last weekend and made five changes to freshen up an injury-hit squad. Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who returned after almost a year, also got half an hour of action as a substitute in the second half.

Madueke got things going with a thunderous strike in the 25th minute, gathering possession on the halfway line and quickly making his way upfield before unleashing a powerful strike that flew into the top corner.

The home side came close to an equalizer in the 39th minute when Aleksandar Stankovic curled a shot narrowly wide after a quick pass and continued to search until half-time, with David Raya making two important saves from Christos Tzolis and Stankovic.

But that momentum seemed to have been left behind in the dressing room at half-time, as Brugge were caught cold two minutes into the second half when Madueke headed home his second goal.

A cross from the left from Martin Zubimendi found Madueke unmarked at the back post, with the home defense watching the ball and hopelessly out of position.

“The first goal was very nice, the second a touch, but the first was sweet,” said a delighted Madueke. «We are fighting on all fronts. I feel we can win this competition and win the league; that has to be the goal. We are in a good place at the moment.»

MARTINELLI KEEPS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCORING TIGHT

Nine minutes later, Martinelli added the third, cutting down the left wing and hammering a right-footed shot into the net for a fifth goal in as many Champions League appearances this season after missing one of Arsenal’s games.

Jesus hit the crossbar in the 79th minute, inches away from a dream return after his long layoff due to a knee injury, and Arsenal still had time in the final seven minutes to hand 16-year-old Marli Salmon a debut at right-back. He is the fourth youngest player to play for the Gunners.

Brugge went into the match with some unrest following the surprise dismissal of coach Nicky Hayen on Monday, with his replacement, Ivan Leko, in charge on his return for a second spell at the club.

“We played against a very good team,” Stankovic said. «Against the best in the world. Still, we played our game. You have to be able to score quickly against such teams. Well, we are a young team and we learn from that.»

Published on December 11, 2025