Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 victory over Rangers in the “Battle of Britain” in Champions League group games on Tuesday in Paris, while Napoli demonstrated their talents with a 6-1 thumping of Ajax in Amsterdam.
On a night in which a minute of silence was observed prior to each play in memory of the 131 victims of the Indonesia stadium disaster, Bayern Munich and Club Brugge both won their third consecutive match, while Inter defeated Barcelona in a close match in Milan.
Liverpool entered their Group A match against the Scottish champions having won only three of their first nine Premier League and Champions League games this season.
However, they swiftly regained composure as Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a magnificent free-kick in the seventh minute to put the home team ahead.
Allan McGregor, a 40-year-old goalkeeper for Rangers, made several outstanding stops, including four to deny Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez his first goal, to keep his team in the game at halftime.
However, seven minutes into the second half, Leon King’s challenge on Luis Daz resulted in a penalty kick.
Mohamed Salah walked up to the penalty spot and smashed the ball down the middle, as McGregor was unable to duplicate the amazing penalty saves he made against Napoli.
“It was precisely what we required. It was an incredibly strong performance “According to Klopp, he changed his customary 4-3-3 system to a 4-2-3-1.
Sometimes it is necessary to make adjustments.
Napoli remain atop Group A after another remarkable victory, coming from behind to thrash Ajax 6-1 and bringing their total from three matches to 13 goals.
Mohammed Kudus gave the home team the lead in the ninth minute, but Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and Piotr Zielinski scored for Luciano Spalletti’s team in the first half.
Raspadori scored his second goal two minutes after the resumption of play, followed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s fifth goal shortly before the hour mark.
Dusan Tadic, the captain of Ajax, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, and Giovanni Simeone sealed the victory for Atletico Madrid.
Invincible Bayern
Bayern advanced to the brink of qualification with a 5-0 hammering of Viktoria Plzen in Group C, their third consecutive victory.
Manuel Neuer, Bayern’s captain, remarked, “We were composed, dominant, and in complete control.”
When everything is going perfectly, we are nearly invincible.
Leroy Sane, a German international, scored twice, the first from a distance in the seventh minute and the second five minutes after halftime.
Between Sane’s first and second goals, Serge Gnabry added a second on 13 minutes, followed by Sadio Mane’s first Champions League goal for Bayern on 21 minutes.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting entered at halftime and scored the fifth goal just before the hour mark.
Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 1-0 in the San Siro to go into second place in Group C, three points behind Bayern. Hakan Calhanoglu scored the game-winning goal for the Italians.
Inter had lost five of their previous ten matches in all competitions, but Turkey midfielder Calhanoglu scored the game’s sole goal on the stroke of halftime to halt the crisis talk.
“Today, it was really crucial for us to demonstrate something to our devoted fans. We demonstrated deservingness, “added Calhanoglu.
However, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez was furious when two crucial handball calls went against his club.
Referee Slavko Vincic called out Pedri’s goal after reviewing a handball by Ansu Fati immediately before the ball fell to him.
VAR authorities determined that Denzel Dumfries did not commit a handball in stoppage time, despite touching the ball in a manner extremely similar to that of Fati.
Xavi told reporters, “If you ask me, I’m upset… the term is indignation because it makes no sense, it’s an injustice.”
I am unable to conceal my view that this is unjust.
Club Brugge tallied a third consecutive victory to continue its surprising run towards the next round.
In Group B, Kamal Sowah and Ferran Jutgla scored for Belgium as they easily defeated Atletico Madrid.
Atletico had opportunities, as Antoine Griezmann’s penalty kick hit the crossbar. They also had a score disallowed for offside, adding to their disappointment.
Koke, captain of Atletico Madrid, remarked, “It’s a really competitive group, and we’ll have to battle for everything.”
Club Brugge leads Group B by three points as Porto defeated Bayern Leverkusen 2-0 in the second half with goals from Zaidu and Galino.
Sporting Lisbon’s march through Group D came to an abrupt halt in Marseille, as the host team rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win 4-1 and earn their first victory.
Lisbon continues to lead the group with six points, two more than Eintracht Frankfurt and Tottenham Hotspur, who tied 0-0 in Germany.
AFP