Tuesday and Wednesday nights have been lit up once again for football fans and this week things got as exciting as it could ever be as the Champions League kicked off in such an amazing fashion. Hat-tricks, comebacks, red cards and goals galore; that’s what the new Champions League season served us this week. Here’s an in depth analysis of how events punned out.
Inter are Back with a Bang.
Boy,! how we missed moments like this from Inter. Inter pulled off an amazing result to claim all three points against Spurs in Italy. A performance that had sheer determination and brilliance written all over it, saw the Milan club come from a goal down to beat Spurs at the death. Spurs looked like they were in control in the first half and Inter were, in large periods of the first half keeping their shape and biding time. Spurs took a deserved lead in the early stages of the second half after Christian Eriksson’s shot deflected via Miranda and looped over the hapless Inter goalie, Handanovic to score. Inter then began to push forward and Spurs began to look like the side they have been this season; little below par in their defensive performances. Inter finally broke through after Kwadwo Asamoah’s cross was met by a fierce volley from the foot of Mauro Icardi (who had been kept quiet by the Spurs defense till that moment) to level the scores. Inter then grabbed a last gasp winner in added time after a corner to the far post was headed back into the box by Stephan De Vrij for Matthias Vecino to prod home sending the whole stadium into ruptures. Spurs manager Pochettino defended his players in the post match press conference after questions were raised about his decision to leave both Toby Alderwield and Kieran Trippier home and why his team have for the first time lost three games on the bounce. For Inter, its a valuable win that gives them 3 points and gives them hopes of qualifying in this group and much more importantly lightening up the San Siro after a long Absence.
Cristiano Ronaldo Sees Red on His Champions league Debut With Juventus.
Stunned, in tears, screaming in frustration, hands in the air and utter disappointment in his body language. That is the best possible way to describe how Cristiano felt after being red carded after less than an hour in the Champions League match against Spanish club Valencia. Ronaldo had an impressive first 20 minutes and looked eager to continue his goal scoring exploits from the weekend. However in the 29th minute, after consultation with his linesman, German referee Felix Brych brandished the red card to Ronaldo after an off the ball incident with Jeison Murillo. Ronaldo appeared to have knocked Murillo to the ground and launched a kick-out on the defender before grabbing and pulling out his hair. Ronaldo was livid and as he trudged slowly off the pitch in tears and inconsolable as his team mates gave him pats of support on the back. Ronaldo would normally miss one game according to the laws of the champions League but may miss up to three games should UEFA extend the ban. Juventus however won the game by two goals from the penalty spot both scored by Miralem Pjanic.
Liverpool Triumph at Anfield as PSG Stars Flop on The Night
In the much anticipated and talked about fixture of the group stage in a group that has been labelled the ‘group of death’, Liverpool triumphed over Paris Saint German through a late Firmino goal after PSG seemed to have grabbed a point after going two goals down. Liverpool started the more purposeful of the two and were rewarded after 30 minutes from a Daniel Sturridge header. Sturridge justified his surprise inclusion into the match day squad with a brilliantly taken header from a Robertson cross after ghosting in between the two PSG centre backs. It was two nil in no time after James Milner scored from the penalty spot after the referee judged a clumsy Juan Bernat tackle on Wijnaldum as illegal. Liverpool bossed the game as Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani were largely kept quiet. Then PSG was handed a lifeline as Thomas Meunier expertly volleyed home a cross after it was deflected into his path via an Andy Robertson touch. The second half was no different from the first, Liverpool bossing play and the PSG midfield in disarray with the front three walking in the shadows. Liverpool had a Mo Salah goal chalked off for a foul on goalkeeper Areola and moments later, he misplaced a pass that fell for Neymar who surged into the box before Mbappe took the ball from his feet and fired home. With PSG starting to feel that they could go on to win after minutes of pressure, Mbappe was robbed of the ball in the middle of the park and the ball fell to substitute Firmino( who according to Klopp walked into training in the morning to declare himself fit after he was declared not fit to play) who lashed a low drive across the face of goal to score in the dying embers of the game. For Liverpool, nights like this define the attitude Klopp has instilled in his boys and more importantly the three points. PSG on the other hand need to improve massively to be able to go further in the competition.
Man City Given Rude Awakening By A Youthful Lyon Side.
Manchester City lost at the hands of a youthful Lyon side by 2goals to one in their own backyard on Wednesday night. With an animated Pep Guardiola( who is serving a touchline ban because of his sending off against Liverpool in last year’s quarter finals) looking on from the stands, Manchester City were stunned by Lyon. Lyon opened the scoring in the first half, through Maxwel Cornet who fired home after Fabian Delph made a rash attempt to clear Fekir’s cross. Lyon added a second two minutes before the break as Nabil Fekir hit a low drive past Alisson. It could have been three had Memphis Depay slotted past Ederson after he was sent through by a brilliant Ndombele pass but it wasnt to be. Manchester City pulled one back after the hour mark but Lyon stood firm to take all the three points back to France. Bruno Genesio’s celebrations at full time showed how important this win was for him. For City, its an open secret that, they are the group favourites and were expected to have blown Lyon away but in truth City must know things will get tougher than last season and so should they.
Bonus:
Lionel Messi Hat-trick King
Lionel Messi scored his eighth Champions’ League hat-trick against PSV Eindhoven as Barca run-riot at the Camp Nou with a stunning free-kick to open the scoring. That makes Lionel Messi the player with the highest number of Champions’ League hat-tricks with Ronaldo close behind with seven.
Renato Sanches Scores for Bayern Again.
In case you have forgotten, the 2016 golden boy winner still plays for Bayern. After a loan spell that he would easily want to forget with Swansea, Renato is back in the ranks at Bayern. Niko Kovac opted to play Sanches in a deep lying role in midfield and gave the youngster a starting berth and the youngster didn’t disappoint as he scored the goal that put the gloss on the scoreline to make it three. His performance received a standing ovation from the fans after he was being subbed.
Mariano 7 Diaz.
Holders, Real Madrid also began their title defence in style as they romped Roma by three goals to nil. Isco opened the scoring with a delightful free-kick before Gareth Bale scored the second. The third, a sensational curling effort from youngster, Mariano Diaz (who recently returned to the Bernabeau and dared to wear the no. 7 shirt) was the pick of the goals. Picking up the ball on the left side of the box, shifted it onto right foot and fired past Olssen into the top corner. Madrid fans would hope Mariano will be the new gem that will develop into a goal scoring machine much like the player who used to don the No. 7 jersey he now dons.
Here are the results from Match week 1.
The Green Turf 
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