2023-12-14 05:38:00
Leading is therefore not only a harbinger of misfortune for Antwerp this season in the Champions League. This observation had marked his European adventure until last night and his authentic exploit once morest FC Barcelona in the sixth match of Group H. As once morest Shakhtar Donetsk (2-3, October 4) then once morest FC Porto (1-4, on October 25), Antwerp scored first. But they went all the way, this time, to achieve a first victory in C1. For honor. And what an honor!
Just 1 minute 17
The 1-0 fell early. Very early. One minute and seventeen seconds precisely. Time for Vermeeren to take advantage of technical laxity from Oriol Romeu to adjust Pena, via the amount (1-0, 2nd). Barça was no more complete than Antwerp. Balikwisha (injured), Ekkelenkamp and Muja (suspended) were missing on one side; Marcos Alonso, Gavi (injured) and De Jong (ill) on the other. Xavi had even lined up two minors at kick-off, namely Hector Fort (17) and the nugget Lamine Yamal (16), surrounded by captains including Lewandowski and the returning Sergi Roberto. But the fact that the Spaniards had to wait until the 36th minute to equalize says a lot of the courage and organization that van Bommel’s men showed once morest them. Without a brilliant pass from Yamal and a surgical sequence from Ferran Torres, it would have been 1-0 at the break. Because it was the first Catalan shot while Antwerp, despite only 37% possession over the entire match, had struck three times on goal following eighteen minutes. And even finished the match with one more temptation than the opponent (10 to 9).
Champions League: PSG goes through the eye of the needle, Antwerp’s feat once morest Barça
Janssen deserved it
The Antwerp panache did not run out of steam in the locker room. The recovery was crazy. A slat from Yamal (53rd), a goal from Janssen canceled by the VAR then a red card brandished to Sergi Roberto transformed into yellow by video assistance.
Where the hell to give head? Towards Pena’s goal! Where Janssen, isolated by Yusuf, scored his first goal of the season in C1. Deserved. The one who would lead his team to a feat. Neither one nor two, Xavi made three changes. The half hour of handball might begin in front of Butez’s goal. With dangerous counterattacks for Antwerp which, however, came close to the worst in stoppage time with a scenario already seen and the equalizer from Guiu (2-2, 90th + 1). But a final thrust from Ilenikhena caused the Bosuil to explode a third time.
3-2. You have to repeat it to yourself to realize it. Certainly, the Great Old finished fourth and last in its group but it washed away the first-leg affront (5-0) and came out with honors. The European press will talk regarding this total feat, that’s for sure. He can now look forward to the arrival of Anderlecht on Sunday in the championship, with stars in his eyes and the certainty that nothing is impossible.
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