Tag: UEFA Champions League

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Champions League roundup: Real Madrid pick up vital win while Liverpool lose at home

Atalanta rebounded from their 5-0 thumping by Liverpool three weeks ago as goals from Josip Ilicic and Robin Gosens gave the Serie A side a shock victory over the Reds in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Liverpool were merciless in Bergamo earlier this month and could have guaranteed their passage to the knockout stages with a fourth successive Group D victory, but they were out of sorts at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp made five changes and the gamble backfired as Ilic turned in Papu Gomez’s cross from the left on the hour before Gosens side-footed home a Hans Hateboer header in the 64th minute to give Atalanta a 2-0 win.

They became the first team to win at Anfield in 90 minutes since Chelsea in September 2018 on an evening where Liverpool failed to register a shot on target even though Mohamed Salah returned to the starting line-up.

Atalanta leaving Merseyside with a surprise win threw the group wide open as the Italian side moved to within two points of group-topping Liverpool, with Ajax doing likewise after overcoming pointless FC Midtjylland 3-1.

After a goalless first half, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui were on-target within five minutes of the restart in Amsterdam before David Neres struck midway through the second period.

The visitors pulled one back through Awer Mabil’s penalty but finished the contest with 10 men following Erik Sviatchenko’s red card in time added-on.

Phil Foden scored the only goal as Manchester City secured their place in the last-16 yet again with a 1-0 victory over Olympiacos in Greece.

The 20-year-old turned home from a Raheem Sterling flick in the 36th minute as City maintained their 100 per cent record in Group C and reached the last 16 with two matches to spare.

The Greek champions were stubborn opponents at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus but City, who created a number of clear-cut opportunities, were never in danger of slipping up.

Porto have one foot in the knockout stage after overcoming Marseille 2-0 in a tempestuous affair in France, where both sides finished the match with 10 men.

Zaidu Sanusi opened the scoring for the visitors by netting a rebound for his first Porto goal six minutes from half-time although Marseille were given a boost when Marko Grujic was sent off midway through the second half.

Moments later though, Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi was given his marching orders after a foul on Moussa Marega in the area, leading to Sergio Oliveira slotting home from the spot in the 72nd minute.

Eden Hazard’s seventh-minute penalty plus Achraf Hakimi’s own goal just before the hour mark gave Real Madrid a 2-0 Group B victory at Inter Milan.

The Serie A side had Arturo Vidal sent off after the Chilean midfielder picked up two yellow cards within seconds of each other, the second after appearing to square up to Premier League referee Anthony Taylor.

Madrid remain one point behind Borussia Monchengladbach, who maintained their place atop the group with a 4-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Lars Stindl’s penalty was followed by goals from Nico Elvedi, Breel Embolo and Oscar Wendt.

Bayern Munich guaranteed they will finish top of Group A as they overcame Red Bull Salzburg 3-1 for their fourth successive win – which came despite the dismissal of Marc Roca.

Robert Lewandowski’s opener and and own goal from Maximilian Wober gave the Bundesliga giants a cushion, and shortly after Roca’s dismissal, Leroy Sane added a third. Mergim Berisha claimed a consolation for Salzburg.

Elsewhere in the group, Atletico Madrid drew a blank against Lokomotiv Moscow.

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DIOGO JOTA NAMED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has won the Champions League Player of the Week award following his hat-trick against Atalanta BC.

The No.20 continued his stellar form in front of goal with a treble in the Group D tie to help the Reds to a 5-0 win that maintained their 100 per cent record.

Jota won an online poll for the prize, seeing off competition from Alassane Plea (Borussia Monchengladbach), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) and Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla).

The Portugal international has four goals in total in this season’s tournament.

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LEIPZIG MAKE FANTASTIC COME BACK TO BEAT 9-MAN PSG.

RB Leipzig fought back to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 at home in a pulsating Champions League Group H clash on Wednesday that kept them on course for a round-of-16 spot while putting the French side, who finished the game with nine men, in a precarious position.

Angel Di Maria had given PSG an early lead, but he then missed a penalty and goals from Christopher Nkunku and Emil Forsberg turned the encounter on its head.

The outcome left Leipzig second in the group on six points from three games, the same tally as leaders Manchester United who beat them 5-0 in the previous round but suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir earlier in the day.

Third-placed PSG, who beat Leipzig 3-0 in last season’s one-off semifinal in August, have three points, level with bottom of the table Basaksehir.

PSG made a bright start as Di Maria gave them a sixth-minute lead, threading the ball past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi with the outside of his foot from close range after he was put through by Moise Kean.

That, however, was as good as it got for the visitors, who had Idrissa Gueye and Presnel Kimpembe sent off in the second half for two bookable fouls.

It all started going downhill for last season’s Champions League runners-up after Gulacsi superbly saved Di Maria’s 16th-minute penalty given after Kean’s shot struck centre back Dayot Upamecano on the arm.

Di Maria and Kean then had goals ruled out for offside in quick succession before Nkunku levelled out of the blue in the 42nd minute with a crisp low shot from the edge of the area following good work by Angelino.

Forsberg missed a gilt-edged chance for Leipzig early in the second half but made no mistake with a 57th-minute penalty awarded after defender Kimpembe handled a seemingly innocuous Angelino cross.

From there on things only got worse for PSG as Gueye was sent off in the 68th minute and Kimpembe also received his marching orders in stoppage time, as the visitors ran out of steam.

PSG showed plenty of attacking flair in the opening half but ultimately missed injured forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as well as striker Mauro Icardi, with midfielders Julian Draxler and Marco Verratti also sidelined.

Forsberg was delighted Leipzig ground out what may turn out to be a priceless win in their bid to reach the knockout stages.

“It was an important goal and an important win,” the Swedish forward said.

“I’m proud of the team and the performance. It’s not easy to play against such a top team, but we played with courage. We were hungry and desperate to win, which I think you could see on the pitch today.”

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ISTANBUL 2-1 MAN UTD: RED DEVILS SUFFER SHOCKING LOSS IN TURKEY.

Manchester United suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday, the English side’s first loss in three Champions League group matches and the Turkish champions’ first victory in Europe’s premier club competition.

United fell behind after 12 minutes when Edin Visca’s long pass found Demba Ba in acres of space and the striker ran forward before finishing neatly past goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Basaksehir doubled their lead five minutes before halftime after Deniz Turuc nicked the ball from Juan Mata and passed to Ba who set up Visca to score.

Anthony Martial’s header two minutes later gave United hope but despite enjoying plenty of possession in the second half, they were unable to break down the Turkish side’s disciplined defence.

“The performance wasn’t good enough against a team that worked and ran and they hit us on the break a couple of times and scored two goals like sometimes you do in Europe when you don’t defend well enough,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters.

Basaksehir scored their first Champions League goals and clinched their first points in the competition on a historic night for the club.

“We played well in the first two games too, but finally we secured a win. This is a big result for us, we are really proud,” Visca said.

United, who beat last season’s runners-up Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig in their first two games, top Group H with six points from three matches. RB Leipzig sit second in the group after their 2-1 victory over PSG, Thomas Tuchel’s side sit in third and Basaksehir remain bottom.

United, who have made a poor start to the Premier League season with three losses in their first six games, played poorly in the first half and although they showed greater urgency after the interval, they only managed one more effort on target.

Solskjaer sent on Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani as substitutes and in stoppage time Alexandru Epureanu brilliantly cleared off the line to prevent an own goal as United’s 18-match unbeaten away run in all competitions ended.

“We hoped we had enough to create chances, we just didn’t. Emotions don’t matter – when you lose, well you can think to yourself how we feel after we lose, that’s not something we go out to do,” Solskjaer said.

“We played against a lot of good individuals in a good team. They were well set up, well organised and we were not good enough. That’s it.”

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JOTA BAGS HATRICK AS LIVERPOOL THRASH ATALANTA 5-0 IN ITALY.

Diogo Jota took his tally to six goals in 10 days with a Champions League hat-trick as Liverpool hammered Atalanta 5-0 to put themselves within touching distance of the knockout stages already.

The Portugal international’s recent scoring spree persuaded Jurgen Klopp to start him ahead of Roberto Firmino in Bergamo and he fully justified the manager’s decision with only the club’s fourth European treble away from Anfield.

He is in elevated company as Michael Owen (two) and Sadio Mane scored the others and what he has achieved already since his move from Wolves in mid-September suggests there could be more to come.

Jota, who could have had a first-half hat-trick but squandered possibly his easiest chance in the second minute, has now scored for a fourth successive match.

He is only the second man to find the net in his first two Champions League appearances for the club, after Robbie Keane in 2008, and already has more goals for the club in 2020 (seven) than Firmino (five) despite having arrived less than two months ago.

Finally Klopp has someone to not only challenge his established front three of Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane – the latter pair also both scoring within a couple of minutes of each other at the start of the second half – but to improve the much-vaunted unit and his £41million transfer already looks good value.

Jota’s impressive performance allowed Liverpool to win their opening three group matches for the first time and they have already established a five-point lead at the halfway stage with two home matches to come next.

Early qualification would be a major boost for Klopp in this most congested of seasons as it would give him the chance to offer some much-needed respite to his major players.

With Manchester City up next in the Premier League on Sunday he even took the opportunity here, removing Jota, who sparked an injury scare by hobbling off, Andy Robertson and Jordan Henderson from the fray with 25 minutes to go and later resting Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum – all likely to be key figures at the Etihad Stadium.

Joel Matip returned to the squad after a four-match absence but Klopp opted to hand 19-year-old Rhys Williams – who a year ago was playing for Kidderminster against Curzon Ashton in National League North – his full Champions League debut at centre-back with Joe Gomez against a side featuring eight players who reached last season’s quarter-finals.

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DIOGO JOTA FEARED INJURED AFTER LIMPING OFF IN LIVERPOOL WIN AT ATALANTA.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was forced to hobble off after an hour of the Reds’ Champions League tie with Atalanta after suffering an injury in the second-half. Jota had scored his first hat-trick for the club in the match prior to his injury.

Jota appeared to take a knock before going off against Atalanta.

The Portuguese ace was on fire in Italy, and grabbed an impressive hat-trick having been given his second start in the competition.

But his evening was cut short just after the hour mark as he was taken off for Roberto Firmino, and appeared to be clutching his leg.

He was escorted off the pitch by a member of Liverpool’s medical staff, sparking fears he had suffered an injury rather than just being tired.

Jota got the rout underway for Liverpool in the opening 15 minutes as he raced through on goal and beat Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello with a delicate chip.

After baring down on goal, the Portuguese ace lofted the ball over Sportiello and followed the ball through to the net.

His second was emphatic, as he called for the ball from Joe Gomez, who played a cross over the top of the Atalanta defence.

Jota brought the ball down perfectly on his left foot and switched to his right before firing into the bottom corner of the net.

His third, which came shortly after half-time, was the simplest of the lot.

Jota raced past the Atalanta defence and latched onto a through ball before rounding the goalkeeper and slot home.

He made a significant statement with his performance and will be hoping to have done enough to warrant a start against Manchester City this weekend.

But he suffered what appeared to be a slight setback at the hour mark as he was substituted off.

As he hobbled off the pitch, he appeared to be clutching his leg, sparking fears he could have a dead leg.

Klopp will be hoping it’s nothing more serious than that, as he prepares to take his side to face City this weekend.

He didn’t appear to go straight down the tunnel, which could indicate the injury isn’t as severe as some feared.

After the full-time whistle blew, he was spotted hugging the match ball and smiling as he left the bench, so Reds fans can probably breathe easy over his condition.

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MANCITY THRASH OLYMPIACOS 3-0 TO MAKE IT THREE WINS FROM THREE.

Manchester City extended their 100 per cent record in this season’s Champions League with a 3-0 win over Olympiacos at the Etihad Stadium.

Ferran Torres became the third-youngest player in Champions League history to score in four consecutive appearances as he helped Manchester City to a third straight win in this season’s competition, a 3-0 success over Olympiacos.

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the only players to have netted in four games in a row at a younger age than 20-year-old Spain international Torres, who scored in the 12th minute, adding to his strikes against Porto and Marseille for City this term and against Atalanta for Valencia last season.

City went into this game unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and could have been out of sight by the time the Greek champions began to put them under pressure in the second half.

But substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Joao Cancelo scored late on to clinch a result that extends City’s group stage streak to 14 games without defeat, and manager Pep Guardiola will be pleased with their form as he aims to take City beyond the quarter-finals for the first time in his reign.

Torres met a City corner with a sublime backheeled shot that flew narrowly wide after six minutes.

City’s recent signing went one better six minutes later, playing a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne before sliding a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Jose Sa to put the hosts in front.

Guardiola’s men continued to create the better chances and Raheem Sterling put the ball in the net, only to have his close-range effort ruled out for offside.

A poor pass by Phil Foden afforded Mathieu Valbuena a shot at goal early in the second half but he fired narrowly wide under pressure from John Stones.

Youssef El-Arabi tested Ederson with a shot from just inside the box as City found themselves pinned back again, and Jose Holebas later blazed wide.

But De Bruyne played in Jesus nine minutes from time and the Brazilian lashed the ball home from an acute angle, before Cancelo’s carefully placed shot found the bottom corner from just outside the box to wrap up the win.

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REAL MADRID 3-2 INTER: RAMOS, RODRYGO HELP REAL SINK SORRY INTER.

Real Madrid thwarted a second half comeback from Inter Milan to win 3-2 on Tuesday and give their Champions League bid lift-off in Group B.

Madrid’s 19-year-old Brazilian Rodrygo came off the bench to score the winner at the empty Alfredo di Stefano stadium, where Inter threatened a remarkable turnaround after drawing level from two goals down.

Lautaro Martinez and Ivan Perisic gave Inter hope of victory after Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos had put Madrid in command, Ramos heading in a second after half an hour for his 100th Real Madrid goal.

But Rodrygo had the last word, his cool finish in the 80th minute earning Zinedine Zidane’s side their first win to leave Inter with a mountain to climb if they are to make the last 16.

These teams were expected to fight for the top two spots in the group but both came into this game on the back of stumbling starts, Inter taking two points and Madrid just one from opening games against Borussia Moenchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Neither coach could afford another slip-up either after a bumpy few weeks. Antonio Conte’s Inter have now won only one of their last seven games while Madrid appear to have turned a corner following consecutive losses last month.

The lively Perisic replaced the injured Romelu Lukaku up front for Inter and Eden Hazard started for the second time this season for Madrid. The Belgian delivered only in glimpses before being taken off shortly after the hour.

Inter’s right-back Achraf Hakimi also went up against the club that sold him for 40 million euros in July and although he was dangerous going forward, it was his poor backpass that led to Benzema’s opening goal.

Madrid were the stronger side in the first half but conceded chances and were vulnerable on the break.

Marco Asensio went close after a cutback from Hazard before two Inter counters saw Nicolo Barella hit the crossbar and Martinez force a save from Thibaut Courtois.

Fede Valverde should have scored but scuffed a half-volleyed finish after a neat header from Benzema, who then did score, capitalising on Hakimi’s error to round the goalkeeper and slot home.

When Ramos headed in Toni Kroos’ corner in the 33rd minute, Madrid looked comfortable but in the 35th they let Inter back in, a sumptuous flicked backheel from Barella spinning into the path of Lautaro, who made no mistake.

Hazard went off just after the hour, with Madrid less dominant and Inter’s confidence growing.

They equalised with the first real chance of the half as Perisic darted onto Martinez’s header and finished into the far corner.

The game was in the balance. Lautaro curled over and Perisic fired wide, with Inter even looking the more likely to grab a winner.

But it was Madrid who struck again, the two substitutes combining on the break as Vinicius Junior sped clear on the left and crossed to Rodrygo on the right, his fellow Brazilian controlling and sweeping in.

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ALASSANE PLEA SCORES HATRICK AS BORRUSIA MONCHEGLADBACH BEATS SHAKTAR 6-0

Striker Alassane Plea scored a hat-trick as Borussia Mönchengladbach crushed their hosts Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 on Tuesday to take over from them at the top of Group B of the Champions League.

Gladbach, who conceded late equalisers in their previous group matches against Inter Milan and Real Madrid, scored four in the first half, with two coming from the 27-year-old Plea, to kill off the game and eventually earn one of the largest away wins of the competition.

They are now top on five points from three games, one point ahead of Shakhtar.

Inter and Real, on two and one point respectively from two games, play each other in the late game in the group on Tuesday.

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ATL MADRID 1-1 L.MOSCOW: DIEGO SIMEONE SIDE FORCED TO A DRAW.

Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Lokomotiv Moscow in their Group A match after the home team’s goalkeeper Guilherme pulled off a string of superb saves to keep the Russian side in the hunt for a last-16 berth.

The result left Atletico second in the group on four points from three games, two behind Bayern Munich who were playing Salzburg away later on Tuesday. Lokomotiv have two points and Salzburg one.

Centre back Jose Gimenez fired Atletico ahead in the 18th minute with a fine header from 13 metres after an inch-perfect cross by Hector Herrera, a minute after Guilherme kept out a Saul Niguez shot.

The home side levelled in the 25th after a lengthy VAR check deemed Herrera to have handled the ball in the penalty area and Anton Miranchuk sent Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak the wrong way with a perfect spot-kick.