European champion in 2019, Liverpool FC is a candidate this season to win a 7th C1. Ten days following their clash in the final of the African Cup of Nations, the Senegalese Sadio Mané and the Egyptian Mohamed Salah led the English club to success (0-2) this Wednesday at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium once morest Inter Milan in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League. The second named scored a precious goal at the end of the game (0-2, 83rd) which will allow the Reds to approach the return match in three weeks with a certain serenity.
Eight minutes earlier, it was their 3rd friend in attack, the Brazilian Firmino (now replacing in favor of the Portuguese Diogo Jota) who had opened the scoring thanks to an unstoppable header (0-1, 75th). For their return to the round of 16 of the Champions League since 2012 (eliminated by OM), Inter Milan did not however deserve and might have hoped for better given their commitment throughout the meeting. The Nerazzurri came close to the opener on a volley from Calhanoglu on the crossbar from Becker (16th). Back from the locker room, Simone Inzaghi’s men dominated the game but they finally gave in to the efficiency of Liverpool, which recorded a 7th success in a row in all competitions.
Coman saves Bayern
In the other round of 16 of the evening, the Blues striker Kingsley Coman justified his contract extension at Bayern Munich a few weeks ago by allowing his team to grab a last-minute draw at RB Salzburg ( 1-1). Despite the presence of 4 Tricolores (Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Corentin Tolisso and therefore Kingsley Coman) as starters at kick-off, the Munich residents were jostled by this Austrian team, 2nd in their group behind Lille, who had won their 3 home games ( once morest Wolfsburg, Sevilla FC and therefore Losc). Led from the 21st minute, Bayern, slapped last Saturday in the Bundesliga by Bochum (4-2), saved the essentials by snatching a draw thanks to Coman.
The last four round of 16 first legs will take place next week. On Tuesday February 22, the French champion Lille will travel to Chelsea, the defending champion while Juventus will travel to Villarreal. The next day, Antoine Griezmann’s Atlético de Madrid will host his friend Paul Pogba’s Manchester United and Benfica will host Ajax Amsterdam.