UEFA Champions League Matchday 7 Highlights

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Manchester City - Aspmyra Stadion

A fantastic day and result for Bodo/Glimt as they beat the 2023 Champions League winners. Despite only having 35% of the ball in the entire match and a fraction of the shots on target compared to Man City they were able to score 3 goals to their opponents 1. 

As well as Man City having Rodri sent off just after they scored to put a halt to their comeback efforts, but Bodo/Glimt were worthy winners in the end against a lackluster Manchester City performance. The performance wasn’t deemed good enough by Manchester City and their players as they reimbursed the supporters who went to the game. 

Bodo/Glimt’s opening goal was made by Ole Didrik Blomberg and scored by Kasper Hogh. High flicked the ball round the Man city defender to set Blomberg away and down the right side. He drove into the Man City penalty area and floated the ball to the back post despite briefly losing his footing. At the back post was a free Hogh who headed the ball through the legs of Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the net to make it 1-0. 

The lead was doubled as Hogh scored his second of the match just 2 minutes later. It came from a Manchester City attack that was cleared over the top of the City defence. The ball wasn’t dealt with properly and was taken by Jens Petter Hauge, who set the ball down the right side to Blomberg again. He looked to his left and saw a completely free Hogh making his way into the box with his hands in the air to show the space he had. A simple ball across the box was hit on the half volley by Hogh and flew past Donnarumma again in the City goal. A dream start for Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League when they needed a result the most. 

Their third goal was a stunning solo effort from Hauge. He got the ball just inside the Manchester City half and ran at their defence. After a few step overs he was past one City player and moved into the space quickly. Hauge got to the edge of the box and cured a shot into the top corner. An excellent piece of solo play with the finish to match which left Donnarumma motionless and he watched the ball fly in. It was 3-0 to Bodo/Glimt just before the hour mark. 

Just 2 minutes later, Man City had a goal back. It was a scrappy goal that was well finished by Rayan Cherki. A near miss for Haaland across the box came to Foden whose shot was blocked. The Bodo/Glimt players tried to play it out from the edge of their own box which was intercepted by Nico O’Reilly. He used his feet well with good skill to lay the ball off for Cherki to hit the ball first time. The shot was driven hard and low and into the bottom left corner with no chance for Nikita Haikin in the Bodo/Glimt goal. That made it 1-3 but that would be how the match would end. 

Inter 1-3 Arsenal - San Siro Stadium

It was a fairly even game at the San Siro between Inter and Arsenal but the difference showed in how clinical Arsenal were compared to Inter. The stats showed an almost identical game for both sides but it ended with the English side taking the points back to London. This result meant that Arsenal were already qualified for the round of 16 with a matchday to spare alongside Bayern Munich. 

It took just 10 minutes for Arsenal to make the breakthrough at the San Siro. There was great one touch football from the Arsenal players on the edge and into the Inter box. With 5 people involved in the making of the goal as Eze tried to reach for the ball but it was behind him and landed at the feet of Jurrien Timber. He scuffed his shot off both feet but as it bobbled towards goal, Gabriel Jesus pounced and fired it past Yann Sommer. There were appeals for offside but a VAR check confirmed the goal as Arsenal took the lead. 

Inter had their equaliser in the 18th minute. A good ball from Lautaro Martínez to Thuram seemed to have him through on goal but his shot was superbly blocked by Gabriel. Barella tried a followup shot but was unsuccessful, then it fell to Petar Sučić on the end of the box. A curling shot fired into the top corner made it 1-1. 

Arsenal regained the lead just after the hour mark thanks to Gabriel Jesus again. Another set piece goal for Arsenal this season as Saka whipped the ball to the back post from a corner. Leandro Trossard headed the ball towards goal where it skimmed off the bar and into the path of Jesus in the 6 yard box. The simplest of goals for the Arsenal striker as he put Arsenal 1-2 ahead. 

The final goal to put the game to bed was scored by the substitute Victor Gyokeres. A sensational outside of the boot pass by Martinelli from his own half set Gyokeres away in the Inter half. He fired the ball then into the feet of Saka who was unable to fully control the ball. However, it set perfectly into the path of Gyokeres for a shot which he did. He curled the ball past Barella and Sommer got a slight hand to it but was unable to keep it out. Inter 1-3 Arsenal. 

Sporting CP 2-1 PSG - Estadio Jose Alvalade 

The game was dominated by the holders with nearly 70% of the possession and over 20 shots. However, the home team with over half of the shots had almost the same shots on target. Sporting ended up the winners against PSG after being the more clinical of the teams. With all of the goals coming after the 70th minute it showed a busy end to the game with a 90th minute winner for Sporting thanks to Luis Suarez. 

An opening goal for Sporting came from a corner in the 74th minute. The corner was initially cleared by PSG but was volleyed back into the box. It then ricocheted off another Sporting player in the box which they did not seem to know much about. The ball then fell perfectly just outside the 6 yard box into the path of Luis Suarez. He opened his body up and curled the ball into the bottom corner past Lucas Chevalier. 

PSG were soon level in the 79th minute after good play from the right side by Ousmane Dembele to find substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He moved towards the Sporting defender before quickly shuffling to his right and curling a shot into the top right corner. Just 5 minutes after Sporting took the lead, the score was level again at 1-1. 

Despite being pegged back by the holders and French champions, Sporting did not hold on for a point as they continued to attack to try and find a winner. Their efforts paid off in the 90th minute. Alisson Santos with good play down the left wing before he set the ball to Francisco Trincão to fire a shot at goal. The shot was parried into the box by Chevalier as Suarez followed up with a header into the bottom corner. The Estadio Jose Alvalade erupted as the entire Sporting bench and coaching staff ran to celebrate the last minute winner. An amazing end to the game as Sporting stunned PSG to take the 3 points.