Tuesday's UCL Recap: Matchday 4
The UEFA Champions League is approaching the climax period of the group stages where results are needed for teams to advance for the knockout stages or keep their hopes of going through alive. With all the action on Tuesday from Groups A to D, here are the five talking points.
Red Star shocker
Liverpool had the opportunity to increase their points tally in their group as they traveled to Red Star Belgrade. Despite leaving Xherdan Shaqiri home, it was going to be a good win for the Reds right? Wrong. Red Star pulled one of the shocks in recent Champions League history beating Liverpool 2-0 from a seven minute brace by Milan Pavdov. Liverpool had no answer for Red Star with or without the ball continuing their woes away from home with three straight defeats since last season (excluding neutral grounds). Red Star now have a slim chance of going through while Liverpool must get results at Paris against PSG and at home to Napoli. Never the easy route.
PSG need wins not dropped points
Speaking of Paris Saint-Germain, they are on pressure themselves on going through as they could only get a 1-1 draw against Napoli at the San Paolo. The Parisians got the lead on the stroke of halftime as left-back poked home a cut-back from Kylian Mbappé. However, Napoli were awarded a penalty after Thiago Silva clattered José Callejón which Lorenzo Insigne converted. This takes Napoli top in Group C ahead of Liverpool on head-to-head while PSG are on five points with their chances increased after Liverpool's shock defeat making the game between Liverpool and PSG in Paris more important.
Kane keeps Spurs alive
Harry Kane came into the rescue for Tottenham Hotspur as they came from behind to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 at Wembley to their hopes of going through alive. Things started tensely for the Lilywhites as Luuk de Jong gave the Dutch champions the lead after only 2 minutes on the clock. Spurs pressed after that but with a brilliant display from PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet, Spurs were on the brink of elimination but within the last eleven minutes of the game, Harry Kane scored twice giving Spurs a new lease of life and keeping their hopes alive in group B as they're now on 4 points with their next opponents Inter who are on 7 points after their draw against Barcelona.
Barcelona through to last 16
Barcelona are the first team to go through to the knockout stages of the Champions League after getting a 1-1 dare against Inter Milan at the San Siro. Messi was not included in the matchday squad as Ousmane Dembélé started. Barça left it very late as Malcom came off the bench to score his first goal in Barcelona colours in the 83rd minute but four minutes later, La Masia graduate and Inter Captain Mauro Icardi, equalized for Inter. For Barcelona, the tougher tests will come in the knockouts while Inter need to beat Spurs to go through.
Atleti inflict BVB's first defeat
Goals from Saúl and Antonie Griezmann gave Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund at the Wanda Metropolitano in the battle for top spot in Group A. This is Dortmund's first defeat in all competitions this season and it was deserved as they had 69% ball possession but could only muster four shots and none went on target. Both teams are still likely to go to Club Brugge behind them by five points with both Atleti and Dortmund on nine points.
Red Star shocker
Liverpool had the opportunity to increase their points tally in their group as they traveled to Red Star Belgrade. Despite leaving Xherdan Shaqiri home, it was going to be a good win for the Reds right? Wrong. Red Star pulled one of the shocks in recent Champions League history beating Liverpool 2-0 from a seven minute brace by Milan Pavdov. Liverpool had no answer for Red Star with or without the ball continuing their woes away from home with three straight defeats since last season (excluding neutral grounds). Red Star now have a slim chance of going through while Liverpool must get results at Paris against PSG and at home to Napoli. Never the easy route.
PSG need wins not dropped points
Speaking of Paris Saint-Germain, they are on pressure themselves on going through as they could only get a 1-1 draw against Napoli at the San Paolo. The Parisians got the lead on the stroke of halftime as left-back poked home a cut-back from Kylian Mbappé. However, Napoli were awarded a penalty after Thiago Silva clattered José Callejón which Lorenzo Insigne converted. This takes Napoli top in Group C ahead of Liverpool on head-to-head while PSG are on five points with their chances increased after Liverpool's shock defeat making the game between Liverpool and PSG in Paris more important.
Kane keeps Spurs alive
Harry Kane came into the rescue for Tottenham Hotspur as they came from behind to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 at Wembley to their hopes of going through alive. Things started tensely for the Lilywhites as Luuk de Jong gave the Dutch champions the lead after only 2 minutes on the clock. Spurs pressed after that but with a brilliant display from PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet, Spurs were on the brink of elimination but within the last eleven minutes of the game, Harry Kane scored twice giving Spurs a new lease of life and keeping their hopes alive in group B as they're now on 4 points with their next opponents Inter who are on 7 points after their draw against Barcelona.
Barcelona through to last 16
Barcelona are the first team to go through to the knockout stages of the Champions League after getting a 1-1 dare against Inter Milan at the San Siro. Messi was not included in the matchday squad as Ousmane Dembélé started. Barça left it very late as Malcom came off the bench to score his first goal in Barcelona colours in the 83rd minute but four minutes later, La Masia graduate and Inter Captain Mauro Icardi, equalized for Inter. For Barcelona, the tougher tests will come in the knockouts while Inter need to beat Spurs to go through.
Atleti inflict BVB's first defeat
Goals from Saúl and Antonie Griezmann gave Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund at the Wanda Metropolitano in the battle for top spot in Group A. This is Dortmund's first defeat in all competitions this season and it was deserved as they had 69% ball possession but could only muster four shots and none went on target. Both teams are still likely to go to Club Brugge behind them by five points with both Atleti and Dortmund on nine points.
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