Barcelona’s Raphinha celebrates after scoring his aspect’s third purpose through the Champions League opening section soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich on the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photograph/Emilio Morenatti)
| Photograph Credit score: AP
It was an amazing evening for English golf equipment, and for Barcelona captain Raphinha.
Premier League chief Liverpool moved degree on factors with Aston Villa on the high of the Champions League standings Wednesday by extending its excellent file to a few wins, and Manchester Metropolis set a brand new file for probably the most consecutive video games undefeated within the historical past of the competitors.
Liverpool edged Leipzig 1-0 with a purpose from Darwin Nunez. Metropolis routed Sparta Prague 5-0 with Erling Haaland scoring twice.
Raphinha scored a hat trick as Barcelona lastly beat Bayern Munich to finish a sequence of six consecutive wins for the German staff of their head-to-head conferences that included a humiliating 8-2 loss for Barca within the quarterfinals in 2020.
This time, Barcelona got here out on high of an entertaining contest with a 4-1 assertion win.
After three rounds within the revamped event, Liverpool and Aston Villa have a two-point lead over seven golf equipment together with Man Metropolis and one other Premier League staff, Arsenal. The 4 English groups within the competitors have conceded only one purpose mixed up to now.
In Barcelona, the hosts opened the scoring inside a minute as Raphinha was discovered by Fermin Lopez’s via ball, then rounded Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with ease.
Bayern leveled the rating with Harry Kane’s volley, however Barcelona responded with one purpose from former Bayern nice Robert Lewandowski and two extra from Raphinha, who was later substituted to a standing ovation.
It was Barcelona’s first win over Bayern for the reason that 2015 Champions League semifinals. Barcelona got here into the sport with out having scored in its 4 video games in opposition to Bayern since an 8-2 loss in 2020. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was Bayern’s coach in that recreation.
“It might have been a Champions League ultimate. Profitable like this, in entrance of our followers, is the perfect,” Raphinha stated. “What we’re doing on the pitch solutions what Barça can do on this Champions League.”
Arne Slot has guided Liverpool to first place within the Premier League early in his tenure as Jurgen Klopp’s alternative and now has the staff on a most 9 factors within the Champions League.
The newest win in Europe got here at Leipzig, one of many golf equipment that Klopp might be overseeing in his new function as head of world soccer at Pink Bull.
Nunez tapped in the one purpose within the twenty seventh minute from Mohamed Salah’s header again towards purpose and will have earned a penalty within the thirty eighth when he seemed to be tripped by Willi Orban.
“If we had left this place with a draw, I’d have actually felt we had misplaced one thing,” Slot informed TNT Sports activities. “For the 70 earlier minutes — besides, possibly, for the primary 10 — we dominated.”
Leipzig is the one staff from the massive 5 leagues to lose its three opening matches.
Manchester Metropolis’s new file will not please the crimson half of the English metropolis.
By beating Sparta Prague, the English champions set the file for consecutive video games undefeated within the historical past of the competitors — even stretching again earlier than 1992 into the European Cup period. Metropolis is now on 26 matches unbeaten. Alex Ferguson’s Man United staff from 2007-09 managed to remain unbeaten for 25 matches.
Phil Foden put the hosts forward with lower than three minutes gone. Haaland then scored an incredible purpose off the again of his heel. John Stones made it 3-0, Haaland grabbed his second and Matheus Nunes added extra luster to the emphatic win.
After beating Actual Madrid 1-0 within the earlier spherical, Lille received 3-1 at Atletico, which was unbeaten in its final 11 house matches within the Champions League.
The French aspect had simply three pictures on track, together with a penalty kick.
Julian Alvarez put the hosts in entrance with an early opener earlier than Edon Zhegrova curled in an equalizer near the hour mark. Jonathan David then scored from the spot within the 74th minute and accomplished a brace within the 89th minute.
“We could not have performed an amazing, nice recreation, however we performed the sport we wanted to tonight,” Lille midfielder Benjamin Andre stated.
An outstanding purpose from Pierre Lees-Melou helped minnows Brest to a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen as each groups remained unbeaten.
The French staff performed with verve all through the second half however was unable to seek out the second purpose.
Enjoying in Europe’s high competitors for the primary time, the newcomers confronted their hardest check but in opposition to the German champions, who had additionally received their first two matches within the revamped event.
Florian Wirtz’s low shot gave Leverkusen the lead within the twenty fourth minute. It was his seventh purpose in all competitions this season. Lees-Melou, who lately returned from a damaged leg, leveled with a right-footed volley from outdoors the field. It was his first purpose since March.
Elsewhere, Celtic struggled however annoyed Atalanta with a 0-0 draw. Mario Pašalić hits the woodwork for the Italian staff.
Searching for a 3rd consecutive win, Benfica misplaced 3-1 to Feyenoord, whereas substitute Marcus Thuram scored in stoppage time to assist Inter Milan scrape a 1-0 win at Younger Boys.
Revealed – October 24, 2024 06:00 am IST
