In the Champions League match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool, the Reds managed to preserve a perfect start in the competition with a 1-0 victory. Darwin Nunez of Liverpool, typically a substitute, made the most of his unexpected starting opportunity due to Diogo Jota’s injury and scored the only goal of the match in the 27th minute, solidly driving in a header from Mohamed Salah. Despite Nunez’s appeals for a clear penalty that was dismissed, Liverpool’s new manager, Arne Slot, certainly has a lot to consider after his performance.
Continuing Slot’s exceptional start to his tenure at Liverpool, this victory marks their sixth consecutive away win in all competitions this season and sets a club record of the Dutchman having won 11 of his first matches as manager after succeeding Anfield’s beloved Juergen Klopp.
While maintaining a flawless record in the Champions League, Liverpool currently holds the second position in the 36-team Champions League group phase with nine points, flanked by their Premier League rivals Aston Villa, who also have nine points, and Manchester City with seven points.
RB Leipzig made considerable exertion but had two disallowed goals. Moreover, Caoimhin Kelleher, Liverpool and Ireland’s goalkeeper, made two critical saves, leaving the Bundesliga club still yearning for their first point.
During the match, Leipzig’s Lois Openda had a spectacular effort thwarted for offside a few moments before Liverpool took the lead. After Salah’s header carefully eluded goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, Nunez confirmed the goal with the decisive touch. Despite a bewildering shot by Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister hitting the crossbar after halftime, Liverpool couldn’t broaden their lead.
Kelleher shone in the match with impressive saves, strongly deflecting a shot by Benjamin Sesko that was off a mistake by Ibrahima Konate, and later a deflected effort by Xavi Simons, who subsequently left the game injured. In a mightily contested bout, Barcelona ended a long-time draught against Bayern Munich, winning convincingly 4-1 at home, courtesy of a hat trick by their captain Raphinha. The captain’s brilliance started barely a minute into the game, where he took a well-placed pass from Fermin Lopez, cleverly swept past the offside traps, and easily outmaneuvered Manuel Neuer to score. The score was equalised by Harry Kane with a volley at the 18 minute mark. However, Robert Lewandowski brought the home side back into the lead with a goal at the 36th minute, thanks to a blunder by Bayern’s defence. Raphinha then increased the lead by pouncing on quick counter-attacks on both sides of the halftime. Despite this victory, Barca has managed to amass just six points in three games in the Champions League standings, placing them ninth, just above Bayern who are 23rd with three points following consecutive losses.
Meanwhile, Manchester City celebrated a 5-0 win over Sparta Prague in a game marked by Erling Haaland’s amazing goal scoring consistency in the Champions League. The match witnessed another two goals to Haaland’s record- a stunning backheel volley which was his initial goal after Phil Foden had set the scoreboard rolling. Haaland later outsmartly finished his 13th of the season following a header from John Stones. A late penalty from Matheus Nunes finalised the score. With three goals netted in a breath-taking nine-minute spell in the second half, the team under Pep Guardiola extended the unbeaten spell in Europe’s prominent competition to an extraordinary 26 games, beating the previous record by their city rivals, Manchester United.
Atletico Madrid was left reeling after Lille seized a 3-1 triumph via a surprising comeback, much of which can be accredited to Canadian Jonathan David’s brace. This result in the Champions League steepens the woes for the underperforming Spanish side, and marks the French team’s second consecutive victory in the competition.
Meanwhile, the Champions League saw a stalemate between Brest and Bayer Leverkusen, with the match concluding at 1-1. This halted the initial two-match winning streak of both teams at the onset of the tournament.
On another interesting note, Feyenoord managed to pull off a significant victory in the Champions League, with youngster Antoni Milambo contributing two goals to their 3-1 upset of Portuguese heavyweights Benfica.
Inter Milan’s stoppage-time winner, netted by substitute Marcus Thuram, led to a nail-biting 1-0 victory against Young Boys, the reigning Swiss champions. Despite an earlier missed penalty, this result proved successful for the Italian side.
On Wednesday, a valiant defensive display from Celtic held Atalanta at bay, resulting in a 0-0 standoff during their Champions League clash. Despite multiple opportunities, the home side could not find the back of the net.