Newcastle shine, Man U flop… UCL WK2 best and worst performers
Newcastle Vs Paris Saint German
After waiting more than 20 years to host a UEFA Champions League match, Newcastle United ran riot against a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain team at St. James’ Park. The 4-1 victory was their largest triumph in the Champions League, making them this week’s biggest Champions League winners.
Eddie Howe’s active team proved too much for the French champions to handle, and Newcastle scored three goals in the first half thanks to their relentless offensive threat. In keeping with the significance of the event for the team, Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff, two native Newcastle supporters, scored the team’s second and third goals. After a 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich in October 1997, PSG suffered the second-largest group-stage defeat in UCL history thanks to an outstanding fourth goal for The Magpies by Fabian Schär.
Even though Enrique’s team had 73% of the ball, their dominance was completely meaningless because they didn’t even try a single shot on goal until the 77th minute.
Borrusia Dortmond VS AC Milan
After a scoreless draw at Signal Iduna Park in Game Week 2, Milan and Dortmund remain without a goal in the UCL this season.
An organized Borussia Dortmund tormented AC Milan as their Champions League match on Wednesday finished in a scoreless draw.
Milan drew again in the group after a scoreless draw with Newcastle United, while Dortmund’s opening match of the 2023–24 season ended in a 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Newcastle defeated PSG 4-1 on Wednesday to move to the top of the group with four points. With two points, Milan are third, and Dortmund are last.
RB Leipzig vs Manchester City
This game against RB Leipzig seemed to be Manchester City’s hardest away game in Group G, which also included Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys. For Pep Guardiola’s team to leave home of Germany’s fifth-place side with a victory is a boost for them.
At RB Leizpig, Manchester City was able to clinch a crucial victory away from home in the Champions League thanks to Julian Alvarez.
The defending champions will almost certainly qualify if they defeat Young Boys on matchday three at the Wankdorf Stadium, and the manager can then begin to plan how to rest players as the season approaches its attritional, defining winter phase.
The German team appeared to be holding on for a draw after Lois Openda’s equalizer, but Guardiola introduced Alvarez who had an immediate impact, showcasing his talent with a beautiful finish five minutes from time.
Porto vs Barcelona
In what was Xavi Hernandez’s 100th game as Barcelona coach, Ferran Torres’ goal gave Blaugrana side a difficult 1-0 victory at Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday. Barcelona have been knocked out in the opening stage in the last two seasons, but this arduous victory on the road puts them in a great position as Group H leaders to avoid being eliminated for the third time in a row.
Napoli vs Real Madrid
Even though both of the English teams that played on Tuesday lost, it was an English player’s night in the Champions League.
On Tuesday, Real Madrid defeated Napoli in an exciting 3-2 victory as Manchester United and Arsenal were defeated by Galatasaray and Lens, respectively. Jude Bellingham once again made the difference for Real Madrid.
The English midfielder helped Vinicius Junior score one goal to tie the game at one apiece before tearing through the Italian champion’s defense on his own to score the game-winning goal. Even so, Madrid had to rely on Alex Meret of Napoli to score an own goal following some unfortunate deflections.
Athletico Madrid vs Feyenoord
Wednesday’s Champions League Group E match between Atletico Madrid and Feyenoord ended in a tense 3-2 victory for the hosts thanks to a brace from lvaro Morata. The hosts’ goalie Jan Oblak also put in an outstanding second half performance.
The unfortunate own goal by defender Mario Hermoso gave Feyenoord an early advantage. Oblak’s rebound from an Ayase Ueda shot bounced off of his knee and deflected into his own goal in the sixth minute.
Manchester United vs Galatasaray
Despite Manchester United’s dismal start to the season, not many would have anticipated the Turks to win at Old Trafford.
The one bright spot for United was Rasmus Hojlund, who scored twice on Tuesday, but the visitors, who twice came from behind, won thanks to goals from former Red Devils winger Wilfried Zaha, Kerem Akturkoglu, and Mauro Icardi.
In what most would tag the worst performance of game week 2, United lost a 2-1 lead and had midfielder Casemiro sent off in the span of ten minutes as Ten Hag’s team crumbled late against its Turkish opponent. Galatasaray scored in the 271st minute of the game, won a penalty, missed it, and then scored again in the 81st, Casemiro got a second yellow card in the process. Mauro Icardi, who only moments earlier had missed the penalty kick, scored the winning goal for the visitors.
United is now last in group A and four points behind Galatasaray, who are currently in second place. After losing its opening match 4-3 to Bayern Munich last month, United has conceded seven goals in its first two Champions League games.
Lens vs Arsenal
Lens defeated Arsenal 2-1. Thanks to goals from Elye Wahi and one of his assists. Before Wahi helped Adrien Thomasson score in the 25th minute and then scored himself with a chip in the 69th, Arsenal had the lead thanks to Gabriel Jesus’ goal in the 14th minute of the game. Declan Rice, an Arsenal midfielder, stated that although his team “missed some big chances,” they are currently “just warming up and getting into rhythm” for the season.
Last time out, Arsenal defeated PSV Eindhoven, marking a historic first victory in a Champions League match since the 2016–17 campaign. For Lens, though, the wait was much longer. The French team hadn’t made it into Europe’s top club since winning its previous Champions League match in 2002 against AC Milan.
FC Copenhagen vs Bayern Munich
Bayern continued their Champions League group stage winning streak record, which now stands at 15 matches dating back to 2020, but it was a difficult task in a 2-1 victory over a tenacious Copenhagen club.
After Lukas Lerager gave the Danish side the lead, Jamal Musiala of Bayern drew the score even, and it was 18-year-old Mathys Tel who scored the game-winning goal after combining with teammate Thomas Müller, 34. In the waning seconds of extra time, Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich had to dive to save an own goal. Bayern hasn’t lost in 36 group stage contests dating back to their 3-0 loss in Paris in 2017.
Union Berlin vs SC Braga
One might say that Union Berlin is having an unforgettable Champions League debut after two games and two devastating losses in stoppage time.
Two weeks after losing 1-0 at Madrid on a similarly late goal by Jude Bellingham, the German club suffered its first-ever home Champions League defeat to Braga, 3-2, on an André Castro goal in the fourth minute of extra time.
Sheraldo Becker had given Union a 2-0 lead on two counterattack goals, but after failing to clear set pieces before 35-year-old midfielder Castro scored the game-winning goal late on, Braga got back into the match with two goals. The other two teams in the group are Madrid and Napoli, therefore Union’s hopes of qualifying have already been severely harmed even after all their efforts.
PSV Endhoven vs Sevilla
With goals in the 86th, 87th, and fifth minute of stoppage time PSV twice overcame a goal deficit, the 2-2 tie between PSV and Sevilla had more than its fair share of drama.
SC Salzburg vs Real Sociedad
With goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Méndez in the first half, Real Sociedad defeated Salzburg 2-0 to clinch its first Champions League win in 20 years.
Inter Milan vs Benfica
Inter Milan, the runners-up in the Champions League last season, defeated Benfica 1-0 thanks to a goal from Marcus Thuram. With the victory, Inter Milan is now tied with Sociedad in the first place position in their group with four points each.
Celtic vs Lazio
In front of 56,063 spectators, Lazio defeated Celtic 2-1 on the road in a thrilling Champions League Group E match on Wednesday at Celtic Park courtesy to a late Pedro Rodriguez header.
After receiving a pass from Matt O’Riley inside the box, Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi launched an unstoppable attempt, giving Scottish champions Celtic the lead 12 minutes into the game.
Luis Palma’s goal, which was rejected by VAR due to offside, would have given Celtic the chance to win the game in the second half.
Pedro, who had replaced Mattia Zaccagni, headed Matteo Guendouzi’s cross precisely into the top corner six minutes into extra time to score.
By Chimezie Amos
