UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 Highlights
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool - RAMS Park
A hectic game in Istanbul which saw the Turkish champions take the 3 points thanks to an early penalty from Victor Osimhen. The match which could have gone either way and definitely deserved more goals due to the chances for each team. However, the single goal penalty was able to win the game despite a late penalty for Liverpool denied by VAR. An intervention which saw referee Clement Turpin sent to the VAR screen to reevaluate his decision, which clearly showed the Galatasaray defender get the ball first before Konate kicked his foot in the box.
That proved to be the last throw of the dice for Liverpool who went home empty handed. Although the game could have had more goals with a goal line clearance from Cody Gakpo after Hugo Etikite forced a save from goalkeeper Cakir from a one on one chance. As well as missed opportunities from the home side as Osimhen was unable to convert a one on one of his own with a comfortable save for Cakir.
The only goal of the game from the penalty spot for Galatasaray after they turned defence into attack from the Gakpo chance. The ball made its way to the left wing to Yilmaz with a turn back into the box but Szoboszlai caught him with his hand as he turned. The referee pointed to the spot immediately, a clear view for him gave him no choice but to award the penalty. Osimhen stepped up and with a stuttered run up lifted the ball down the middle with Alisson diving the wrong way.
Monaco 2-2 Manchester City - Stade Louis II
The match was mostly dominated by Manchester City especially in the first half as they went in 2-1 up at half time thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland. The opening goal came with an almost immediate response with a thunderbolt from Monaco’s Jordan Teze. Despite their dominance and hitting the woodwork from Phil Foden, they only took the lead again in the 44th minute. However, they were unable to add to their lead in the second half with a familiar face in Eric Dier netting a 90th minute penalty to equalise and have the points shared between the teams.
An opening goal only took 15 minutes for Manchester City and Erling Haaland. A simple ball over the top by Gvardiol had Haaland through as he lifted the ball past goalkeeper Phillip Kohn into the net. A textbook Haaland goal as he netted his first goal of the night.
A response didn’t take long for Monaco with Jordan Teze given the ball from the left on the edge of the box. He took a touch out of his feet before whipping a shot into the top corner, leaving no chance for Donnarumma in the City goal. A superb finish from the centre midfielder levelled the game just 3 minutes after Haaland gave Man CIty the lead.
Just before the break a cross in the box from Nico O’Reilly on the left, the floated ball was met in the air by a leaping Haaland. He placed all of the power on the ball to force it into the bottom corner and past Kohn in the Monaco goal. A great header from the Norwegian striker with the 3rd goal in 2 games in the Champions League.
The last goal of the game came in the last minute of the game following an incident from a Monaco free kick. The incident saw Eric Dier going for a header as the ball arrived in the box, with Nico Gonzalez catching him as he also went for the ball with his feet. No penalty was given straight away but due to a VAR review the penalty was given. Dier stepped up himself to take the penalty 5 minutes after the initial incident, in which he sent Donnarumma the wrong way putting it into the bottom left corner. The game ended level with a missed opportunity for Man City but delight for Monaco as they restricted City to a draw.
Barcelona 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys
An even game between 2 of the favourite teams to lift the trophy come the end of the season. Different parts of the game were dominated by each team as they looked to take the 3 points.
There were great team goals and moments of individual quality made the 3 goals of the game but it was PSG that took the points with a 90th minute winner from Goncalo Ramos. Despite being in the lead in the game and having 2 chances blocked on the line by PSG defenders Barcelona were unable to add a second on a disappointing night for the Catalan club.
The first goal came from a good interception and anticipation from Lamine Yamal, putting Barca on the front foot immediately with a 5 on 5 towards the PSG goal. Yamal passed the ball into the feet of Pedri, who gave it to Rashford on the left. A first time ball into the box from Rashford split the defence and found a free Ferran Torres, who put the ball in from close range. There was an appeal for offside from the PSG players but the goal stood.
An equaliser came before half time in the 38th minute with youngster Senny Mayulu taking advantage of a mistimed clearance from Cubarsi. The 19 year old took the ball in his stride before putting the ball out of his feet and firing it into the bottom corner as he wrong footed Szczesny. The man who came on in the UCL final last year picked up where he left off with a lovely finish to bring PSG level.
The winner was another well worked team goal scored by Goncalo Ramos. The ball was worked down the right to Hakimi with the right back advancing down the right before he played the ball into the path of Ramos. He was free in the box to hit the ball first time into the bottom corner. The weight of the pass from Hakimi was perfect for the first time finish. That proved to be the winner in the last minutes with PSG taking the points back to Paris, with Barcelona ruing their missed opportunities.
