Morgan Rogers, Ethan Nwaneri, Arsenal defence, and own goal history: The best stats from Champions League Matchday 8

There was history made in more ways than one on the final night of the UEFA Champions League league phase. All 18 games were played at the same time, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and there were 64 goals scored in total. Morgan Rogers impressed with a hat-trick for Aston Villa, while Ethan Nwaneri netted his first Champions League goal for Arsenal in their win over Girona.

The final round of the UEFA Champions League's inaugural league phase saw drama aplenty with 18 games being played at the same time.

Manchester City came from behind to squeak through against Club Brugge, while Aston Villa beat Celtic to reach the last 16 alongside Arsenal and Liverpool.

There were a near-record number of goals scored on Matchday 8, including three hat-tricks and two own goals by the same player.

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There was also history made by two young English players.

We pick out five of the best stats from the UCL league phase finale.

Goals total hits 64 

TNT Sports' Ally McCoist was not far off when he predicted before the night’s action a total of 68 goals across the 18 games.

There were 64 goals in total, the second-highest for a matchday in Champions League history.

The record is 67 goals on Matchday 5, when nine of the 18 games produced five or more goals.

Highlights: Huge relief for City as victory over Club Brugge seals progression

Video credit: TNT Sports

Matchday 8 also ranks second for most goals scored in a single night in Champions League/European Cup history.

The record for most goals on a single night was set in the European Cup on September 16, 1970, with 66 goals in 16 matches, including a 9-0 win for Celtic.

The previous matchday record before this season, when there were 16 games in a round instead of 18, was 63 goals in 2000/01.

Rogers makes history

Amid transfer speculation around Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, it was Morgan Rogers who starred in Aston Villa’s 4-2 win over Celtic.

Rogers hit a hat-trick to become the second-youngest English scorer of a Champions League hat-trick, aged 22 years and 187 days old.

The record is held by Wayne Rooney, aged 18 years and 340 days, with his hat-trick coming against Fenerbahce in September 2004.

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Rogers also became the first player to score twice in the opening five minutes of a Champions League game, with his goals coming in the third and fifth minutes.

"Definitely the highlight of my career so far," said Rogers after the game.

Highlights: Rogers treble drives Villa past Celtic and into last 16

Video credit: TNT Sports

Nwaneri follows Bellingham

By scoring for Arsenal against Girona, Ethan Nwaneri became the second-youngest Englishman to score a Champions League goal after Jude Bellingham.

Nwaneri only just missed out on the outright record. He was 17 years and 314 days old, compared to Bellingham’s record of 17 years and 289 days when he scored against Manchester City in 2021.

"He has the capacity to finish from every angle basically, and it was a very important goal," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta about Nwaneri.

"It's very natural for him, you can see the way he takes the touches, how he beats people and then the technique he's got, he's so precise in his finishing, put him a lot of times in that situation and the outcome will be good."

Highlights: Nwaneri makes his mark as Arsenal confirm last-16 spot

Video credit: TNT Sports

Own goal double

Feyenoord’s Gernot Trauner set an unwanted record as he became the first player in Champions League history to score two own goals in a match.

Trauner twice turned into his own net in Feyenoord’s 6-1 defeat against Lille.

A third own goal was originally awarded against Feyenoord but that was overturned and given to Angel Gomes for a shot that deflected into the net.

Feyenoord's Trauner makes history with own goal double against Lille

Video credit: TNT Sports

Arsenal defence impresses

According to Arsenal's official website, the goal they let in against Girona from 32.19 yards was the longest-range goal they have conceded in the Champions League since Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Manchester United against them in May 2009 (34.6 yards).

It was also the first they have conceded from open play in the Champions League this season.

Arsenal let in three goals in total across the league phase, which was second best behind Inter Milan.

The Serie A side conceded just once in eight games, against Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 6.

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All 18 UEFA Europa League matches on Thursday, 30 January are available to watch live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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