Matchday two of the Champions League (you can catch all the action on Paramount+)play began with Inter Milan rebounding with a victory over Viktoria Plzen behind a goal and an assist from Eden Dzeko. Scoring 10 goals in nine appearances versus Viktoria Plzen, he's no stranger to goals against them. Viktoria Plzen were reduced to ten men following a bad tackle by Pavel Bucha and Inter rolled from there.
Sporting CP and Spurs were playing an even match until they weren't with both sides missing chances early until almost the 90th minute. After a strong save from Hugo Lloris, Sporting drew first blood from a Paulinho header in the 90th minute after coming off the bench. Continuing bench contributions, Paulinho then found Arthur Gomes to double the advantage taking control of Group D early. It was a winnable match for Spurs but the finishing just wasn't there while Sporting took control at home.
In the late window, Club Brugge jumped all over Porto for a 4-0 win which was their largest away victory in Champions League history. Antonio Nusa also became the second youngest scorer in Champions League history at 17 and 149 days driving home the fourth goal. Continuing the firsts, Jesper Lindstrom scored Eintricht Frankfurts's first Champions League goal to see the team to their first victory in the competition. Atletico Madrid went the way of Spurs earlier in the day by conceding in the 84th and 87th mintues to lose to Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool played an absolute barnburner with Ajax before Joel Matip's winner inched just over the line for a 2-1 victory. After the Reds opened the scoring, there was a slight worry when Mohammed Kudus scored a thunderbolt to bring Ajax level. But taking 23 shots, Liverpool created too much pressure for the Dutch side to withstand.
Bayern Munich secured an important 2-0 victory over Barcelona behind goals from Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane. Barcelona controlled the first half but weren't able to find the net before Bayern found their footing to put things out of sight behind Sane's brilliance.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds may not have kept a clean sheet but the goal they conceded was worth the price of admission as Ajax dribbled through the defense before Kudus had quite the hit.
With how the season has gone, that would've been a time that Liverpool could've conceded multiple goals like they did against Napoli but instead they piled on the pressure until Ajax cracked. It's no surprise that this performance came with the return of key players into Klopp's lineup with Joel Matip, Diogo Jota, and Thiago Alcantara starting. The trio not only knows how to play the Liverpool way, but were also critical to Liverpool's success last season. Jota grabbed an assist while Matip scored the winner as one of the simplest answers for how to fix Liverpool seems to be just getting healthy.
With Thiago's return, the fullbacks created nine chances combined and eventually, Liverpool wore Ajax down. The goal after this will be to stay healthy and repeat this performance next time out against Brighton after the international break.
Spurs weren't the only team to allow late goals as Sporting CP scored twice after the 90th minute. They were joined by Atletico Madrid collapsing to allow goals in the 84th and 87th minute while losing to Bayer Leverkusen. Junior Frimpong's introduction into the match was the turning point for Bayer as he assisted both goals. Creating two chances on 15 touches from the bench he was able to find Robert Andrich and Moussa Diaby. After losing to Brugge on the opening day, Bayer winning this match pushes them to second in group B.
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Antonio Conte's collapse seems to be more on Spurs running out of steam and then losing composure. After subbing on Dejan Kulusevski, Conte forgot that his bench existed despite pressure from Sporting all match. While Hugo Lloris had a great day in net with four saves, he was lucky to not be beaten by former Spur Marcus Edwards at the end of the first half.
Once Sporting got fresh legs on the pitch, they pushed the pressure before Paulinho scored the go ahead goal. His goal made Spurs collapse before assisting an insurance goal to Arthur Gomes who was only on the pitch for seconds. The result now brings Spurs and Eintracht Frankfurt level on three points with both looking up at Sporting CP on six points in Group D.
Everyone raise your hand if you had Club Brugge perfect atop Group B two matches in. With five goals scored and zero allowed, Brugge are ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, and Porto as they look to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. Even if they don't, Brugge are setup well for at least dropping into Europa League.
While it started with Sadio Mane and Thomas Muller getting their paths crossed while going for a ball, it ended with Sane making excellent runs to get into space and score. This was the kind of statement win that Bayern needed after drawing three league matches. Barcelona won the xG battle 2.0 to 1.58 but it doesn't tell the full story as Bayern's best attacks didn't end in shots in the first half. In fact, 0.94 of Barcelona's xG came in the first half compared to .30 for Bayern. Most of that came from a familiar source in Robert Lewandowski who had five shots in the first half but was uncharacteristically wasteful only putting one on target.
Barcelona still created chances in the second half, but this time it was Pedri missing good chances instead. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich isolated Lucas Hernandez on Marcos Alonso during a corner kick leading to one of the easier headers that he'll score following a great corner from Joshua Kimmich.
But Sane's goal was a thing of beauty. With Julian Nagelsmann improving his side's positional awareness after the half, the stage was set for no one to get in Sane's way when he dribbled into the box, finishing his chance and Barcelona at the same time.
Those corners have been causing Ajax all sorts of trouble and finally the pressure tells but only just. Matip rises to meet the corner from the left and his header has just, just, just crossed the line before an Ajax head scrambles it away. Jubilation at Anfield.
This time it's to Moussa Diaby as Bayer Leverkusen scored two in three minutes apart as Atleti are falling apart.
it's Robert Andrich via an assist from Frimpong who only entered the match five minutes earlier. Talk about an instant impact.
But still it's not enough. First he skews wide in the box before turning provider as he drives across goal looking for Diaz. Pasveer somehow denies the Reds again, flinging a glove in the direction of the delivery and putting it behind the waiting Colombian.
Frankfurt are looking to hold on for their first Champions League win but it will get a little harder with Kamada being slightly off.
Kudus is offside as he hammers a drive at Alisson but it's just getting a bit too close for comfort for Liverpool, whose Champions League campaign might pivot on these next 20 or so minutes. A goal for them and you'd say things are fine with top spot eminently within their reach. Lose and they're suddenly way behind the eight ball with two games against Rangers to come. Those are sure to be tricky for Klopp's men. They could do with not slipping up here.
Bayern are turning up the pressure from a position of strength with 20 minutes to go. Sadio Mane will exit.
It's Lewandowski setting up Pedri in open space again. All Pedri has to do is put the ball anywhere but at Neuer but the ball hits off the post and out for a Bayern goal kick. Barcelona are pushing the right buttons but not the finishing ones.
They're knocking at the door at Anfield but Ajax won't let it budge. Their defense has been really rather impressive, particularly on an individual level, most notably as Daley Blind guides a dangerous free kick to safety. As the ball comes to him at the back post he knows exactly where Salah is and diverts it to clip the Egyptian and then go out. That's some superb old man defending there.
Hernandez:
Sane:
His runs have been one of the strongest parts of Bayern's attack during the match as Sane beat Kounde in a footrace for the slight finish past ter Stegen. Bayern's finishing woes are a thing of the past as they take a two goal advantage.
it's Lucas Hernandez who loses his marker for a clear herder on goal. Marcos Alonso is at fault for that as Kimmich served up a peach of a corner kick.
Nice passing around the box as Kamal Soweh doubles Brugge's advantage after good hold up play from Jutgla. Time to worry for Porto now as they'll need to get one back sooner than later.
After picking up a yellow and missing a chance, Marcel Sabitzer is off for Leon Goretzka.
A really good first half that. Liverpool were vastly improved from the depths they've plumbed in recent weeks but they've had to be to assert themselves on a really good Ajax team. On another day Pasveer would not have been quite so excellent, Kudus would not have scored the goal of the group stages so far. But not today and now Klopp's side have some work to do.
Shocking that this match is scoreless as the half is close. Lewandowski has taken four shots for an xG of 1.02 and we're not even at halftime. Barcelona may want these missed chances back. But Sane follows up with an amazing solo run, then continues to run the ball out of bounds.
The ball is in the box and it's a comedy of errors as this time Mane and Muller get tangled in front of ter Stegen
Wow, as good a save as you'll see in the Champions League this week! Van Dijk meets a Liverpool corner with a bullet header but Pasveer gets down low to parry it to safety. Your initial reaction on viewing it will be that it was quite close to the Ajax goalkeeper but actually it's just a little way away from him and met so firmly that no one should really be expected to get down that quickly, certainly not when they are 38.
Leroy Sane had the dribble to set up the Bayern midfielder but he couldn't put his shot on target. Sabitzer will want that one back for sure.
What a stunning strike from Mohamed Kudus, out of nowhere to bring Ajax level right as they're on the back foot. Bergwijn gets away down the left after nice interplay and finds the Ghanaian in the area. There's still an awful lot for Kudus to do but boy does he, spinning and firing a superb strike past Alisson, who never had a hope.
Ferran Jutgla has netted a penalty in Porto and Club Brugge lead against the Portuguese giants, who are having a tougher start to the group stage than many expected. Meanwhile on Merseyside, Liverpool are rampant.
Benjamin Pavard had to be withdrawn for Noussair Mazraoui after picking up an injury.
After four games without a goal, a lifetime by his standards, Salah strikes with a thunderous left footed effort. It's nicely done by the Liverpool front three, Diaz winning the first header off an Alisson long ball and flicking it on to Jota. He tees up Salah to strike and there you have it. Anfield feels like it can breath again.
This time it's Lewandowski as he has everyone beaten but pushes his shot just over the bar. Uhh Bayern will need to wake up as they're being played off their own park. Barcelona have already taken five shots as they're pushing the pace. Sabitzer has also picked up an early yellow after a challenge on Sergio Busquets.
Both these sides look to be cancelling each other out at Anfield, every good action drawing an equally impressive reaction from the opposition. There's some lovely Liverpool interplay in midfield but when Elliott undercooks one pass the impressive Alvarez is on hand to steal possession. However on this occasion the Liverpool defense organises itself quickly, quashing any chance for a counter by the Dutch side. We've had 12 minutes played and just one shot but I'm rather enjoying this.
Joao Mario concedes the penalty bringing down Jutgla and he doesn't miss from the spot as Brugge take the lead.
