Dhaka, Mar 13 (V7N) — The English Premier League (EPL), renowned for its competitiveness and intense rivalries, is facing a worrying trend in this year’s UEFA Champions League. Despite having the most clubs in the last sixteen, six English teams failed to win their first-leg matches, raising questions about their performance on the continental stage.

Among the biggest casualties were giants Chelsea FC, Manchester City FC, and Tottenham Hotspur, all losing by three goals. Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3–0 with a hat-trick from Federico Valverde, while Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Chelsea 5–2, and Atlético Madrid beat Tottenham by the same scoreline.

Other English clubs also struggled: Liverpool FC lost 1–0 to Galatasaray, Newcastle United FC drew 1–1 with Barcelona, and Arsenal FC drew 1–1 with Bayer Leverkusen.

This marks a historic moment: it is the first time in Champions League history that two English clubs lost by three or more goals on the same day, and only the second time Chelsea have conceded five goals in a single UCL match — previously losing 5–1 to Barcelona in 2000. For Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, this is only the third match in his coaching career lost by three goals, leaving him pessimistic about the club’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

The recurring pattern of heavy defeats raises concerns about why the EPL, despite its domestic strength and high-profile rivalry, struggles to translate success in European competitions. Comparisons to historic collapses, such as Barcelona’s 6–1 comeback against PSG in 2017 or their 4–0 loss to Liverpool in 2019, suggest that even elite teams are vulnerable in knockout football.

With three of the six English teams facing daunting deficits, the question lingers: why does the Premier League, celebrated for its fierce competition, struggle so significantly on the continental stage?

END/SMA/AJ