UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 analysis – Group E, F

Author: Vishwajit Sawant

The second round of the UEFA Champions League witnessed some impressive surprises, with Newcastle United thrashing PSG 4-1 in their first home game since 2003, while AC Milan’s goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund added to their difficulties in the European campaign.

Two goals from Morata lead Atlético Madrid to a thrilling 3-2 win over Feyenoord

In a thrilling Champions League clash on Wednesday, Álvaro Morata was the hero for Atlético de Madrid, scoring two crucial goals that orchestrated a stunning comeback against Feyenoord. Morata’s first goal, 13 minutes into the first half, helped erase an own goal from Mario Hermoso. Feyenoord briefly took the lead with David Hancko’s goal in the 34th minute, but Antoine Griezmann restored equality just before half-time. Morata’s heroics continued in the second half when he scored the winner after just two minutes, taking advantage of a well-placed pass from Nahuel Molina.

Atlético Madrid won 3-2, ending their six-game winless run in the competition and rekindling their hopes of progressing to the last 16. Morata’s incredible form, with seven goals in eight games this season, underlines Atlético’s determination for a strong Champions League campaign under Diego Simeone. Brazilians Samuel Lino and Igor Paixao played 62′ and 90′ each, while Reinildo missed out through injury.

Pedro’s late header sealed Lazio’s dramatic 2-1 win over Celtic

In a captivating Champions League Group E clash, Lazio beat Celtic 2-1 over the reigning Scottish champions. The excitement began right from the start, when Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring for Celtic in the 12th minute with an incredible goal. Lazio responded with determination, and Matias Vecino’s header leveled the score at 1-1 in the 29th minute. Celtic looked to have secured victory in the second half through Luis Palma (81 mins), but the VAR intervened to cancel out the goal due to an offside call.

The climax of the game came in injury time, when substitute Pedro Rodriguez scored a precise header after Matteo Guendouzi’s cross, sealing Lazio’s dramatic victory. Lazio and Atlético de Madrid share top spot in the group with four points each, while Celtic are bottom. In their next games, Celtic will face group leaders Atlético de Madrid on October 25, while Lazio are preparing to visit Feyenoord. This crucial win gives Lazio a boost in their Champions League campaign, ready to face the challenges ahead in Group E. Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson was substituted in the 68th minute.

Milan’s struggles in the Champions League continue with a goalless draw against Borussia Dortmund

In another lacklustre performance, Milan were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, marking their second consecutive goalless draw in the competition. Despite an entertaining encounter, with both sides creating plenty of chances, neither team managed to score. Milan, who reached the semi-finals last season, had already drawn 0-0 at home to Newcastle in their Champions League opener.

Those missed opportunities could come back to haunt them later in the tournament. Rafael Leão, Milan’s striker, expressed his disappointment, saying: “We’re absolutely not happy with the draw. In this match, we created a lot of chances… considering what we did, we should have left here with three points.” Newcastle’s surprise 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain took them to the top of Group F, one point ahead of AC Milan. Borussia Dortmund, still searching for their first points and goals in the competition, had lost their opening match 2-0 to PSG.

Although Milan showed promise in their performance, the lack of clinical finishing remains a concern. They will need to solve this problem if they want to progress in the tournament.

Newcastle’s dream continues with impressive 4-1 win over PSG

In a fairytale turnaround, Newcastle United, under their new Saudi owner, pulled off a shock 4-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in their first Champions League home game since 2003. Newcastle’s top scorers included Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schär, far from the expected “galactico” signings. Newcastle raced into a 3-0 lead inside 50 minutes, with PSG struggling to contain the fervent atmosphere created by the home fans.

Although Lucas Hernandez scored a goal for PSG, it wasn’t enough to save the night. Newcastle continued to dream, topping Group F with four points after a 0-0 draw against AC Milan. In contrast, PSG are facing a challenging season, currently fifth in Ligue 1 and struggling to find their form in the Champions League. For Newcastle, these victories mark a historic and exciting chapter in the club’s history. Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães made an impact in the center of Newcastle’s pitch with an assist for Dan Burn.