The Champions League rumbled on this week. Beneath, we dissect the largest speaking factors from Matchday 2 in Europe’s premier membership competitors.
Newcastle present they belong
It was a celebration over 20 years within the making for Newcastle United.
A date towards Paris Saint-Germain (perennial Champions League contender) and Kylian Mbappe (arguably one of the best participant on the earth) set the stage for what many anticipated to be an emotional and memorable return to the European stage for the Magpies. However not even probably the most loyal Newcastle fan may’ve predicted what would unfold throughout the workforce’s first Champions League contest at St. James’ Park since 2003.
From Miguel Almiron’s opening purpose – Newcastle’s first within the Champions League since Alan Shearer scored towards Inter Milan in March 2003 – to Fabian Schar’s marvel strike in harm time to seal a lopsided 4-1 victory, there was no scarcity of unforgettable moments Wednesday for a fan base that is endured some very troublesome intervals – together with two relegations – over the past twenty years.
That maybe makes it much more particular {that a} pair of their very own, Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff, performed necessary roles in Newcastle’s biggest-ever Champions League win with large contributions in each halves. With PSG threatening for an equalizer after Almiron’s purpose, native boy Burn helped extinguish the rising stress contained in the stadium with an enormous purpose simply earlier than halftime. Then Longstaff accomplished his dream of scoring for his boyhood membership within the Champions League with a strike within the second half after a poor effort from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
YOUR NEWCASTLE UNITED! 🫶🫶 pic.twitter.com/VjKtGJlBlO
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 4, 2023
For PSG, it was a continuation of what is been a lackluster begin to the season. Days after being held goalless in a draw with Ligue 1 minnows Clermont Foot, PSG got here out flat in assault once more, despite the fact that Luis Enrique deployed 4 forwards on Wednesday evening. Marquinhos’ error that led to Almiron’s purpose made life extraordinarily troublesome for the guests in a hostile surroundings, whereas PSG usually struggled to get out of their very own finish towards Newcastle’s press.
Maybe PSG did not discover that Group F leaders Newcastle have been on hearth for the reason that finish of the final worldwide break. Earlier than beating up on PSG – and doing splendidly to make sure Mbappe barely touched the ball – Newcastle have been on a three-game win streak in all competitions, together with a 8-0 beatdown of Sheffield United and a slender victory over Manchester Metropolis within the League Cup.
If there was any doubt about whether or not Newcastle belonged on membership soccer’s greatest stage, supervisor Eddie Howe and his squad could have simply silenced their critics for good after a efficiency that Newcastle followers will not quickly overlook.
Ten Hag, Man Utd hit all-time low
There was no scarcity of drama on the Theatre of Desires on Tuesday. Sadly for Manchester United and supervisor Erik ten Hag, it was a repeat of the horror present that continues to derail their 2023-24 marketing campaign.
Along with their well-documented home struggles, Manchester United’s hopes of progressing past the opening spherical of the Champions League took successful after shedding in dramatic trend to Galatasaray at Previous Trafford, a defeat that leaves Ten Hag’s males final in Group A.
There have been quite a few factors of encouragement for the hosts Tuesday when it appeared Manchester United have been destined to come back away with a precious victory. It might need helped to quickly subdue requires Ten Hag’s dismissal amid Manchester United’s traditionally unhealthy begin within the Premier League.
As a substitute, these grumblings have grown louder. Manchester United have been their very own worst enemy, blowing a pair of one-goal leads earlier than permitting the Turkish facet to get its first-ever win on English soil.
Apart from Rasmus Hojlund’s impressed two-goal efficiency, it was the identical outdated story for the struggling Pink Devils. Poor defending, wasted alternatives, and a lackadaisical angle contributed to Galatasaray’s most well-known win on an evening that is perhaps appeared again on as all-time low for Ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United.
The protection was a large number once more, whereas Andre Onana produced one other worrying efficiency to compound his depressing begin at Manchester United. Then, with the sport tied late on, United pushed ahead for the go-ahead purpose, solely to see Galatasaray go the opposite method and rating the winner courtesy of Mauro Icardi, whose intelligent chip over Onana helped avenge his penalty miss simply minutes earlier than.
In a last-ditch try to get one thing from the sport, Ten Hag launched Antony, despite the fact that the Brazilian hadn’t performed a minute in virtually a month as a consequence of an ongoing assault investigation. Predictably, Antony did not look sharp.
With Manchester United tasting defeat for the sixth time in all competitions – probably the most losses after 10 video games since 1986 – will Ten Hag even be round to supervise the membership’s subsequent Champions League match towards Copenhagen?
Madrid’s midfielders run the present
There was a number of speak about Actual Madrid’s lack of ability, or unwillingness, to spend massive on a substitute for Karim Benzema this summer time. Critics could not perceive why they’d enter the season with Joselu as their solely recognizable center-forward.
However the dialog appeared to miss the goal-scoring potential of Madrid’s gung-ho midfielders, a gaggle that once more proved its versatility in Tuesday’s swashbuckling 3-2 win over Napoli.
Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde have been every concerned in eight attacking sequences, as many as Vinicius Jr. and greater than another participant on the pitch, and Eduardo Camavinga, taking part in once more at left-back, joined the assault each time he may. Bellingham created the primary purpose with an interception within the closing third and scored for the eighth time in 9 video games off an unbelievable solo run that made Napoli’s defenders backpedal like politicians beneath controversy. Valverde patrolled the appropriate flank, taking on, as he often does, varied defensive and attacking roles, and when Madrid have been probing for a winner, the Uruguayan, one of many recreation’s nice long-distance specialists, uncorked a spectacular half-volley deserving of the 2 deflections it took en path to purpose.
Luka Modric contributed off the bench as effectively. The 38-year-old restored Madrid’s equilibrium simply as Napoli threatened to knock them fully off steadiness. The Serie A champions had simply leveled and the sport was threatening to turn into a monitor meet. In simply 25 minutes, Modric shut Napoli down, forcing them to shoot from distance.
That Madrid may even summon such a level-headed and skilled participant off the bench is unfair. With that type of midfield depth, anticipate Los Blancos to make one other deep Champions League run.
Arteta pays worth for Saka gamble
Arsenal’s second Champions League recreation could not have gone a lot worse.
Alongside the way in which to dropping three factors in an away defeat to Lens, Arsenal have been dealt a blow that might have large penalties going ahead. Bukayo Saka’s elimination from the competition as a consequence of an obvious leg harm proved to be a pivotal second and one that won’t have even been crucial.
Arteta elected to begin the 22-year-old regardless of his latest harm considerations somewhat than play it secure simply days earlier than what’s undoubtedly Arsenal’s greatest match of the season towards Premier League rivals Manchester Metropolis.
The guess appeared prefer it would possibly repay after Saka arrange Gabriel Jesus’ opening purpose together with his fifth help in all competitions. However his night was over 20 minutes later after taking place to obtain therapy for a non-contact harm. It was the third recreation in a row that Saka was compelled off.
Arteta revealed after the competition that Saka injured himself on a backheel go, including that he had “no clue” in regards to the winger’s availability for Sunday’s recreation in north London. Saka’s sturdiness offers a glimmer of hope, however that does not disguise the truth that Arteta’s gamble on his finest participant’s health backfired on the worst attainable time.
Lens deserve a ton of credit score after securing their first Champions League win in 21 years with a constructive attacking show. However Arsenal have been finally undone after failing to strike a cohesive steadiness of their assault after Saka’s elimination.
With Saka trending towards becoming a member of the injured Gabriel Martinelli on the sidelines, Arteta might want to hash out an efficient recreation plan and encourage his males to defy the percentages towards his former employers, Manchester Metropolis. Solely three factors Sunday can clean over the bitterness of Tuesday’s deflating loss.
Fast free-kicks
AC Milan all of a sudden flip goal-shy
AC Milan shot 39 instances of their first two Champions League matches. None of them went in. No workforce has fired extra makes an attempt with out scoring, and that is in all probability as a result of Milan miss the online almost as a lot as they hit. They’ve scored simply twice of their final seven Champions League appearances, relationship again to the beginning of final season’s knockout spherical.
However that is completely different. Rafael Leao stays a harmful power on the left wing, and the addition of right-wingers Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze has made Milan’s assault extra well-rounded. They’ve racked up sufficient high-quality probabilities to attain 3.5 objectives from their 39 photographs within the Champions League this season, in keeping with knowledge from Opta Analyst. Milan aren’t taking part in boring, defensive soccer however the type of vertical recreation that helped them win the Scudetto in 2021-22. In the event that they proceed taking part in with this a lot attacking spirit, they’re going to rating as a result of they’ve the expertise, if not all the time the focus.
Rico Lewis hype is actual
Julian Alvarez stole the headlines in Manchester Metropolis’s win over RB Leipzig after his large game-winning purpose late. But it surely was Lewis who had supervisor Pep Guardiola in awe after his breakout Champions League efficiency within the Group G victory.
It was a coming-of-age show for the 18-year-old. He mixed with fellow homegrown star Phil Foden to arrange Manchester Metropolis’s first purpose, nevertheless it was his motion with the ball, imaginative and prescient, and consciousness that proved extraordinarily troublesome for Leipzig to defend. After the sport, Guardiola gushed over Lewis: “What a participant. 18 years outdated. I have been a supervisor for 14-to-15 (years), coaching unbelievable gamers; to discover a participant like him within the pockets, how he has to maneuver, shifting into the areas, he is the most effective I ever skilled, by far,” the Man Metropolis supervisor mentioned, in keeping with The Athletic’s Sam Lee.
Simeone comes alive in Atleti win
Switching from a defensive fashion to a free-flowing assault has introduced pleasure again to Atletico Madrid – and their touchline. It was solely Atletico’s second recreation of the Champions League, however that did not cease Diego Simeone from celebrating their 3-2 win over Feyenoord prefer it was the latter levels of the match. After a disappointing opening draw, it was clear that solely a win would fulfill the Spanish tactician.
However, first, Simeone needed to undergo after Feyenoord took two leads in Madrid. Issues rapidly rotated after Atleti mounted an astonishing comeback spearheaded by two gamers many had written off, Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata. After Morata netted his second of the sport, Simeone let all of it out, operating down the sidelines to rejoice what would find yourself being the game-winning purpose.
One other harsh lesson for Union Berlin
Anticipating an enormous turnout for his or her first foray into the Champions League, Union Berlin determined to host their group stage matches on the Olympiastadion, the house of metropolis rivals Hertha Berlin. The get together swelled to over 70,000 folks on Tuesday and turned to revelry when Sheraldo Becker gave Union an early 2-0 lead over Braga. Row upon row of followers clad of their sacred pink apparel bounced up and down.
However the celebration turned to agony within the second half, with Braga erasing the deficit earlier than scoring the winner within the 94th minute. The German upstarts have not performed badly within the Champions League – they held Madrid goalless for 93 minutes of their opening match – however once more realized a harsh lesson. They have been powerless to cease Bruma’s outrageous curling effort earlier within the second half however naive to let a low shot skip previous them deep into stoppage time.
Bayern nonetheless a piece in progress
Bayern Munich wanted a purpose from teenage substitute Mathys Tel to increase their profitable streak within the Champions League group stage to fifteen matches. Earlier than that, they toiled mightily towards Copenhagen’s tight-knit protection, creating few real probabilities – regardless of controlling as a lot as 65% of possession – and going almost the entire first half and not using a shot on course.
Tel’s profitable purpose – which carefully adopted Jamal Musiala’s equalizer – wasn’t even the byproduct of the sleek passing sequences followers have come to anticipate from the serial Bundesliga champions. Goalkeeper Sven Ulreich hoofed the ball ahead, Harry Kane nodded the ball into Thomas Muller’s path, and Muller purchased sufficient time for Tel to hitch the assault and hearth dwelling. It was a damaged play and a uncommon buckle in Copenhagen’s stronghold that created the breakthrough, not a play Bayern had developed on the coaching pitch.
Stat of the day
Do not let Lazio play 5 minutes of second-half stoppage time.
MD1: Ivan Provedel 90’+5 equalizer vs. Atleti
MD2: Pedro winner 90’+5 vs. CelticLazio are developing clutch within the #UCL this season. 😳 pic.twitter.com/VfvpoJ87vj
— CBS Sports activities Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 4, 2023
Tweet of the day
New yr, new gamers, usual issues for PSG.
Solely PSG may sack their coach, rent a brand new coach, promote all their undesirable gamers, purchase a load of recent ones, transfer to a model new coaching centre and nonetheless collapse within the Champions League in precisely the identical method. Most constant model in sport.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) October 4, 2023
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