Author: Barkha Roy
Man City – Crvena Zvezda – 3:1
Reigning champions Manchester City showed their determination by recovering from a goal down to secure a 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade in their Group G opener at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. Julián Álvarez was the highlight of the match, scoring twice to beat Pep Guardiola’s side.
From the start, Manchester City dominated proceedings with their possession-based style of play. However, their dominance was hampered by their sloppiness in front of goal, as they struggled to find the finishing touch. Just moments before the break, Red Star Belgrade dealt the hosts a stunning blow. Osman Bukari seized a clear opportunity and executed an elegant finish to give his team an unexpected lead.
Despite the setback, Manchester City, guided by their astute coach Pep Guardiola, regrouped at half-time. In the second half, they showed the character that has defined their championship-winning campaigns.
The only Brazilian player in the match, Ederson, played a relatively limited role throughout. However, in the second half, he showed his agility by advancing quickly out of his own goal area to stop a possible Red Star counter-attack. At one point, Ederson even boldly attempted a pass with his back to goal in the middle of the pitch.
Young Boys – RB Leipzig – 1:3
In another thrilling encounter, RB Leipzig beat Swiss champions Young Boys 3-1 in their opening match. The contest was marked by late drama when Leipzig substitute Benjamin Šeško made headlines with a crucial goal in injury time, taking advantage of a swift counter-attack initiated by Benjamin Henrichs.
The game began with Leipzig launching an onslaught of attacks, forcing three promising chances in the opening two minutes. Mohamed Simakan opened the scoring for Leipzig with a well-taken goal after a corner in the third minute. However, as the first half wore on, Young Boys found their rhythm and began to impose themselves. Ulisses Garcia provided a decisive assist for Filip Ugrinic, who in turn played the pass for Meschack Elia to score in the 33rd minute.
Throughout the match, Leipzig maintained an assertive approach, with Šeško having a goal disallowed by VAR for offside. It wasn’t until the 77th minute that Xaver Schlager finally managed to penetrate the Young Boys defense to score. Šeško took advantage of a late opportunity as Young Boys pushed forward in search of the equalizer, securing a 3-1 win for RB Leipzig.
Barcelona-Antwerp – 5:0
Barcelona made a resounding statement in their Champions League Group H opener at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys with a dominant 5-0 win over Royal Antwerp. João Félix, the club’s recent acquisition, stole the show with an outstanding performance, contributing two goals.
The Catalan side’s display was marked by precise control of possession and quick passing, signaling their determination to excel in the competition after consecutive group stage eliminations. The attacking prowess was evident, with goals not only from Felix, but also Robert Lewandowski and Gavi.
Félix wasted no time in opening the scoring with a low, precise strike in the 11th minute. He then became the provider, setting up Lewandowski, who netted eight minutes later, becoming the third player in the history of European competitions to reach 100 goals, joining Ronaldo and Messi.
Barcelona’s dominance continued and they scored a third goal in the 22nd minute, courtesy of Raphinha, whose shot deflected off Antwerp’s Jelle Bataille and was an own goal. After the break, Barcelona, led by coach Xavi Hernandez, persisted in extending their lead. Gavi scored the fourth goal with authority.
Félix rounded off the emphatic 5-0 win with a well-placed header. Barcelona sent out a clear message of their ambitions in the competition with this imposing performance.
Raphinha was the only Brazilian player in that particular match, and his impact was significant. He played a key role in Barcelona’s third goal when he delivered a precise cross that, after deflecting off a defender, hit the post before finding the back of the net. Raphinha also showed his skills by providing an exceptional cross for João Félix’s second goal, which was also Barcelona’s fifth in the contest.
Shakhtar – Porto – 1:3
On the other hand, Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk faced a challenging start at their temporary home in Germany, succumbing to a 1-3 defeat against FC Porto. Brazilian Galeno was the main star of the match. He scored twice, in the 8th and 15th minutes (Kelsy scored in between his goals). And in the 29th minute, he provided an assist for Teremi. Another Brazilian, Wendel, came on for Porto after the break.