Champions League Roundup: A Night of Surprises and Spicy Goals!
Well, it’s that time of year again, folks! Time for the UEFA Champions League—the place where you go to see the world’s best players and, judging by tonight’s matches, some seriously questionable officiating decisions. Honestly, I’ve seen clearer decisions from a drunk referee during a children’s match! What a night it was, filled with goals, disallowed strikes, and drama worthy of any soap opera!
Barcelona’s Sweet Revenge
Barcelona faced Bayern Munich in a match that had more spice than a curry at a British pub! Remember the 8-2 demolition a couple of years back? Well, Flick thought he could bring his old club back to glory, but that didn’t last long, did it? Raphinha kicked things off for Barcelona in the first minute—yes, you heard that right, a goal so quick it made my microwave look slow!
Harry Kane equalized for Bayern, and he was just warming up! He sent the ball into the net twice, but it was ruled offside. VAR, the ultimate buzzkill, strikes again! Meanwhile, Lewandowski got a taste of home-cooking, putting Barcelona ahead for good before Raphinha struck again. By the end of the match, Yamal’s cheeky pass sealed the deal. Let’s just say Bayern left wondering if they needed a GPS to navigate through the defense.
Brest and the Newcomer Drama
Next up, we had Brest stepping onto the European scene, proving that playing at a stadium 130 km away due to UEFA regulations can’t stop a football team from trying to get some glory. They took on Sparta Prague, and oh boy, it was a classic match of ‘who can screw up less.’ The game ended in a stalemate, both teams leaving without a win. However, I’ve seen less drama on a soap dispenser at a public restroom!
Stalemate in Bergamo
Celtic Glasgow, doing their best impression of a rock band, managed to hold Atalanta to a goalless draw after getting smashed by Dortmund earlier. Manager Rodgers decided to tighten things up defensively—and boy, did it pay off. Meanwhile, chances galore for Atalanta left fans groaning and wishing for a goal. Remember, folks, the only time you should hit the crossbar is in a bar—not on the pitch!
Inter Milan, Clutching at Straws
Inter Milan snuck away with a 1-0 win against Young Boys Bern, thanks to a last-minute effort from Thuram. Young Boys came close to glory but hit the post—clearly, they didn’t get the memo that a post is not a player. The drama! The tension! Or as some might call it, ‘just another Tuesday.’
Not-so-Romantic Spanish Encounters
And speaking of romances, how about those Spanish teams? Atlético Madrid led against Lille but ended up tasting bitter defeat as the French team responded with two quick goals. Two goals! It’s like saying “thank you for the invitation” and then immediately asking for snacks!
The Rest: Meh…
As for the rest of the matches? Oh, just your standard offside calls, yellow cards, and more VAR confusion than in a English pub during a football match. I mean, if I had a pound for every time a goal was disallowed, I’d be richer than any football club! Salzburg kept things entertaining by continuing their streak of home losses. They seriously ought to switch to tennis after this!
Final Remarks
This Champions League night was everything we love about football: glory, heartbreak, and a sprinkle of bureaucracy gone mad! Each team showed flair with their unique ways of either obliterating the opposition or simply obliterating their own chances. Whether you’re a Barcelonian basking in victory or a Bayern fan checking your team’s GPS coordinates, there’s always another match on the horizon. Grab your popcorn! Till next time, kick those knees up!
The 16th match between Barcelona and Bayern had a spicy flavor for home coach Flick and striker Lewandowski, who previously worked at the Bavarian club. They were there when Bayern won the competition in 2020, inflicting an 8-2 debacle on Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
This time, however, he conceded in the first minute, when Raphinha made a loop to goalkeeper Neuer as well.
English forward Kane, the top scorer in the Champions League with five goals, took care of the equalizer. In the span of nine minutes, he even got the ball into the net twice, but the video referee detected an offside on the first shot. Lewandowski returned the lead to the home side, Raphinha scored for the second time before the break and, after switching sides, Yamal’s pass sealed the win for the Catalan club.
Newcomer on the European scene, Brest, who will be Sparta’s next opponent at Letná on November 6, plays its matches in Guingamp, 130 kilometers away, because its stadium does not comply with UEFA regulations. Schick played 63 minutes there, he got a chance also because his competitor in the attack, Boniface, injured his hand in a car accident on Sunday and did not fly to France.
Wirtz gave the guests the lead and after two goals in the premiere in Rotterdam, he was among the top scorers for the third time. Even before the break, Lees-Melou equalized after an action set up by ex-Slavic Sima. In the second half, in his debut in the millionaire competition, Kovář pulled himself up when Camara’s shot headed under the crossbar.
On the other hand, the referee checked the video twice to see if the guests should kick a penalty, but rejected it each time. The battle between two 100 percent teams thus far ended in a draw.
Liverpool beat Leipzig in both legs in 2021 and did it again on Wednesday. It was decided by the Uruguayan Núñez, who tapped Salah’s header into the net from close range. Opend’s equalizing goal was disallowed for offside. As expected, the goalkeeper Vítězslav Jaroš was only on the Liverpool bench, the Irishman Kelleher got priority between the posts.
Celtic Glasgow have lost their last six away games in the Champions League, but manager Rodgers worked defensively after the 1-7 debacle at Dortmund and his men were held to a goalless draw in Bergamo.
Although Atalanta had a great advantage from the start, Pašalic’s header was stopped by the crossbar and other chances were thwarted by goalkeeper Schmeichel. Even Retegui, who scored eight goals in eight rounds of the Italian league, did not make his mark.
Inter Milan won at Young Boys Bern 1:0 only thanks to a shot by Frenchman Thuram in the set-up. Until then, the Swiss team was closer to victory, but Monteiro’s shot was blocked by the post, and goalkeeper Sommer kept a clean sheet in the third match as well.
Three weeks ago, the Lille footballers surprised the defenders of the trophy, Real Madrid, and this time they also defeated the second representative of the Spanish capital, even on their own soil. Although Atlético led thanks to Argentine Álvarez, his goal was first answered by Kosovar forward Zhegrova and then by Canadian David with two goals.
Feyenoord Rotterdam took three points from Lisbon after their success in Girona. The players of the former coach of Sparta Priske won the first half after shots from the Japanese Ueda and Milambo. Turk Aktürkoglu only reduced after changing sides, but Milambo restored the two-goal advantage in the set-up and Benfica came away empty-handed after two wins.
Salzburg lost at home to Dinamo Zagreb 0:2 and with their sixth home loss in the Champions League in a row, they have the worst record of all participants this year. He finished without the suspended Schlager and still has zero goals scored. Thanks to Kulenović and Petkovič, the Croatian team won the prestigious competition for the first time after seven matches.
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 18:45
Goals:
39. Lees-Melou
Goals:
24. Wirtz
Assemblies:
Bizot – Lala, Chardonnet (C), Coulibaly, Haïdara – Mahdi Camara (83. Doumbia), Lees-Melou, Magnetti (83. E. Fernandes) – Del Castillo (72. Faivre), Ajorque (72. I. Saláh) , Cement (66. Baldé).
Assemblies:
Kovář – Mukiele (72nd Tapsoba), Tah (C), Hincapié, Grimaldo – E. Palacios (63rd Xhaka), A. García – Wirtz, Hofmann, Tella (63rd Frimpong) – Schick (63rd Adlí, 81. Terrier).
Substitutes:
Coudert, Jauny – N’Diaye, Camblan, Amavi, Lage, Martin.
Substitutes:
Hrádecký, Lomb – Andrich, A. Soares, Belocian, Onyeka.
Yellow cards:
84. I. Salah, 90+5. Lees-Melou
Yellow cards:
72. Frimpong, 74. Wirtz, 79. Alonso, 90+2. Nah
Referee: I. Kružliak – B. Hancko, J. Pozor (SVK)
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 18:45
Assemblies:
Carnesecchi – Djimsiti, Hien, Kolašinac (78. Ruggeri) – Bellanova (58. Samardžić), de Roon (C), Éderson, Zappacosta – Pašalić (78. Zaniolo) – Retegui (58. De Ketelaere), Lookman (69. Cuadrado ).
Assemblies:
Schmeichel – A. Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Valle – Engels (74. McCowan), McGregor (C), Hatate (68. Bernardo) – Kühn (81. Forrest), Idah (68. Furuhaši), Maeda (74. Palma).
Substitutes:
Patrício, Rossi – Godfrey, Palestra, Manzoni, V. Vlahović, Del Lungo.
Substitutes:
Bain, Sinisalo – Jang Hjon-jun, Nawrocki, Ralston, Welsh.
Yellow cards:
Yellow cards:
8. A. Johnston
Referee: I. Peljto – S. Ibrišimbegović, D. Beljo (BIH)
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 21:00
Goals:
2. Raphinha
36. Lewandowski
45. Raphinha
56. Raphinha
Goals:
18. Kane
Assemblies:
Peña – Koundé, Cubarsí, I. Martínez, Balde – Pedri (85. Gavi), Casadó – F. López (61. F. de Jong) – Yamal (85. Fati), Lewandowski (85. Victor), Raphinha (C ) (76. Olmo).
Assemblies:
Neuer (C) – Guerreiro (86. Laimer), Upamecano, Kim Min-čä, A. Davies – Kimmich, Palhinha (60. Goretzka) – Olise (60. Sané), Müller (60. Musiala), Gnabry (60. Coman) – Kane.
Substitutes:
Kochen, Szczęsny – Domínguez, Fort, G. Martín, Torre.
Substitutes:
Peretz, Ulreich – Dier, Ibrahimović, Tel, Aznou.
Yellow cards:
Yellow cards:
90. Goretzka
Referees: Vinčić – Klančnik, Kovačić
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 21:00
Goals:
Goals:
28. Nunez
Assemblies:
Gulácsi – Geertruida (75th Bitshiabu), Orbán (C), Lukeba, Henrichs – Haidara (87th Elmas), Vermeeren (74th Kampl), Nusa – Šeško (74th Baumgartner), Openda, Simons (78th Poulsen).
Assemblies:
Kelleher – Alexander-Arnold (76. Gomez), I. Konaté, van Dijk (C), Tsimikas (76. Robertson) – Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister – M. Saláh (64. L. Díaz), Núñez (76. Jones), Gakpo.
Substitutes:
Vandevoordt – André Silva, Gebel.
Substitutes:
Jaroš, H. Davies – Endó, Morton, Nyoni, Quansah.
Yellow cards:
8. Lukeba, 23. Geertruida
Yellow cards:
12. Mac Allister
Number of viewers: 45,228
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 21:00
Goals:
8. Álvarez
Goals:
61. Žegrova
74. David
89. David
Assemblies:
Oblak – Molina (77. Simeone), Witsel, J. Giménez, Galán (77. Mandava) – de Paul, Koke (C), Gallagher (77. Lino), Álvarez – Sørloth (65. Á. Correa), Griezmann.
Assemblies:
Chevalier – O. Touré (46. Diakite), Mándí, Ribeiro – Meunier, André (C), Mukau (87. Angel Gomes), Gudmundsson – Fernandez-Pardo (88. Sahraoui), Bayo (65. David), Cabella ( 16.Zegrova).
Substitutes:
Musso, Gomis – Kostis, Riquelme, Lemar, Gismera.
Substitutes:
Mannone, Caillard – Costarelli.
Yellow cards:
17. Galán, 78. J. Giménez, 88. Witsel
Yellow cards:
44. O. Touré, 78. Meunier
Referees: M. Guida – C. Carbone, A. Giallatini (all ITA)
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 21:00
Goals:
66. Aktürkoğlu
Goals:
12. Ueda
33. Improved
90+2. thrives
Assemblies:
Trubin – Bah (88. Schjelderup), T. Araújo, Otamendi (C), Á. Fernández – Aursnes, Florentino (65. Amdouni), Kökçü (72. Sanches) – Di María (65. Beste), Pavlidis (72. Cabral), Aktürkoğlu.
Assemblies:
Wellenreuther – Lotomba (75. Hadj Moussa), Hancko, Trauner, Bueno (88. Smal) – Hwang In-pom, Milambo, Q. Timber (C) – Osman (60. Beelen), Ueda (75. Carranza), Paixão .
Substitutes:
S. Soares, André Gomes – António Silva, Kaboré, Rollheiser, Adrian Bajrami, Prioste.
Substitutes:
Bijlow, Berger – Zerrúqí, Facundo González, Ivanušec, Mitchell.
Yellow cards:
90+1. Amdouni, 90+2. Sanches
Yellow cards:
39. Q. Timber, 44. Bueno
Referee: Meler – Ersoy, Uyarcan (all TUR).
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 21:00
Goals:
Goals:
90+3. M. Thuram
Assemblies:
von Ballmoos – Blum (86. Athekame), Lauper – Benito (C), Hadjam – Łakomy (77. Elia), Ugrinić – Virginius (59. Colley), Imeri (59. Males), Monteiro – Ganvoula (86. Itten) . . . .
Assemblies:
Sommer – Pavard (76. Bastoni), de Vrij, Bisseck – Dumfries, Frattesi, Barella (C), Mchitarjan (61. Zieliński), Augusto (54. Dimarco) – Taremí (76. M. Thuram), Arnautović (61. L. Martínez).
Substitutes:
Keller, Marzino – Mohamed Ali Camara, Niasse, Conté.
Substitutes:
Di Gennaro, J. Martínez – Darmian, Aidoo, Berenbruch.
Yellow cards:
33. Hadjam, 35. Monteiro, 36. Imeri, 81. Males
Yellow cards:
36. Dumfries, 87. Dimarco
Rozhodčí: Oliver (ENG) – Burt (ENG), Mainwaring (ENG)
Number of viewers: 31,500
Champions League
3rd round 23/10/2024 21:00
Goals:
Goals:
49. Kulenović
84. Petković
Assemblies:
A. Schlager – Dedić, Piątkowski, E. Baidoo, Terzić (82nd Guindo) – Bidstrup (58th Capaldo), Diambou (58th Bajčetić), Kjaergaard – Daghim (58th Nene), K. Konaté, Gloukh (69th. Blaswich).
Assemblies:
Nevistić – Ristovski, Théophile-Catherine, Bernauer, Torrente – Sučić (88. Stojković), Mišić, Ademi (59. Rog) – Baturina (88. Kačavenda), Kulenović (78. Petković), Ogiwara (78. Pierre-Gabriel) .
Substitutes:
Blank, Okoh, Clark, Gourna-Douath, Mellberg, Morgalla.
Substitutes:
Zagorac – Rock, May, Cordoba, Pjaca, Mbuku, Špikić.
Yellow cards:
18. Bidstrup, 31. Dedić, 73. Piątkowski, 82. Pepijn Lijnders
Yellow cards:
90. Rog
Red Cards:
65. A. Schlager
Red cards:
Originator: Danny Makkelie – Hessel Steegstra, Jan de Vries
