Porto’s Pepe celebrates scoring his aspect’s second purpose throughout a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, on November 7, 2023.
| Picture Credit score: AP
For European soccer veterans, it was an evening to savor.
As Manchester Metropolis and Leipzig reached the knockout stage of the Champions League with two matches to spare on Tuesday, two emblematic gamers of Europe’s previous guard grabbed the highlight.
Already the oldest Champions League outfield participant, veteran Porto defender Pepe turned the oldest scorer within the Champions League historical past when he rose within the field and headed house his group’s second purpose in a 2-0 win over Antwerp.
Pepe, who’s 40 years, 254 days previous, scored in stoppage time after Brazilian striker Evanilson put the hosts in entrance with a first-half purpose.
“In the present day is a big day for me. It’s my mom’s birthday and I informed her that I’d do every part I might to attain a purpose,” Pepe stated. “This sense is unbelievable, as a result of anybody who reaches this age enjoying at this stage — representing an enormous membership like Porto — is aware of it takes numerous work, numerous sacrifice, an incredible ardour for this sport. I’ll attempt to take pleasure in it as a lot as attainable.”
The earlier file was held by Roma’s Francesco Totti, who scored in Europe’s prime membership competitors at age 38 years, 59 days in 2014.
Barcelona loses to Shakhtar
Porto has 9 factors and moved stage with chief Barcelona, which misplaced 1-0 to Shakthar Donetsk in Group H’s different match.
A draw would have been sufficient to safe Barcelona a spot within the spherical of 16 for the primary time after two straight eliminations within the group stage of Europe’s prime membership competitors.
Danylo Sikan scored the winner with a header within the fortieth minute within the sport that Shakhtar hosted in Germany due to the battle.
Barcelona had misplaced solely as soon as this season — to Actual Madrid within the Spanish league “clasico” final month. It had no makes an attempt on track via the primary hour in Hamburg, and just one all the match.
Giroud breaks Blanc’s file
At San Siro stadium, it was one other veteran — Olivier Giroud — who was cheered by his teammates after AC Milan recorded its first win and first targets on this season’s Champions League to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1.
Aged 37 years, 38 days, Giroud turned the oldest French goalscorer within the competitors, overtaking Laurent Blanc.
Rafael Leao scored Milan’s different purpose and the consequence left the Group F large open. Milan got here from behind after conceding a ninth-minute opener from Milan Skriniar. Borussia Dortmund beat Newcastle 2-0 within the different match and now leads the group. The German group is some extent above PSG, two above Milan and three above Newcastle.
Haaland scores brace
Manchester Metropolis stored its good file to advance from Group G with a 3-0 win towards Younger Boys. Erling Haaland scored two targets as Metropolis additionally prolonged its unbeaten house run in European soccer’s elite membership match to twenty-eight video games. Phil Foden additionally netted.
German group Leipzig superior with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Pink Star Belgrade. Objectives in both half from Xavi Simons and Loïs Openda ensured back-to-back victories for Leipzig over the Serbian champion, giving it 9 factors, three behind Metropolis. Each Pink Star and Younger Boys have one level and might not end among the many prime two.
Motionless baggage two hundredth Lazio purpose
And in Group E, one other skilled participant was additionally on prime of his sport: 33-year-old Ciro Motionless scored his two hundredth purpose with Lazio because the Roman membership revived its hopes of advancing with a 1-0 win over Feyenoord.
The Lazio captain scored from a pointy angle after getting across the goalkeeper late within the first half on the Stadio Olimpico. Lazio moved into second place in Group E with seven factors. Atletico Madrid tops the group with eight factors after routing Celtic 6-0.
Dutch champion Feyenoord nonetheless has an opportunity in third with six factors, whereas Celtic trails with one level.
