UEFA Champions League fixtures are back for the 20/21 season. We saw some fabulous games and results in Game Week One. Few awaited and anticipated matches made this week more exciting.
Here are the highlights of every group and individual games.
Group A
Lokomotiv Moscow took the lead from the 19th minute after Eder scored the goal against Salzburg. But, Lokomotiv equalized from the goal of Dominik Szoboszlai within the first half. Both teams scored one each in the second half and shared the equal point resulting in the game 2-2.
The European giants and the Champions Bayern Munich scored 4 goals against the visitor Atletico Madrid. Kingsley Coman took the lead and Leon Goretzka made it double within the first half. Corentin Tolisso netted from a set-piece shooting from outside the box. Coman again scored to make the result 4-0. Atleti was poor and neither created too many chances.
Group B
Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk went a bit surprising as Shakhtar thrashed Madrid with 3 away goals. The first half was all dominated by Shakhtar. In the 29th minute, Tete opened the score sheet, and later on, he provided an assist too for Manor Solomon. Raphael Varane conceded an own goal to make the score 0-3 in the first half.
The second half was so much progressing and determined for the hosts. They tried to bounce back and scored twice. Luka Modric scored the first goal from the Madrid side. In the 59th minute, Vinicius Jr subbed on and scored on his first minute narrowing the trail to 2-3. Later on, in the additional time, the goal of Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) was overturned by VAR.
Watch the highlights of Real Madrid vs Shakhtar here!
In the next fixture, Romelu Lukaku scored double to share a point with Borussia Monchengladbach. Internazionale looked a bit dispossessed few times but Lukaku took the situation under control. Ramy Bensebaini scored an equalizer from a penalty whereas Jonas Hofmann scored for the lead for Gladbach. But Lukaku again scored (2-2) in the last minute to give Inter a tie point.
Group C
Manchester City and Olympiakos Piraeus gained 3 points defeating Porto and Olympique Marseille respectively.
Ahmed Hassan touched the net in the additional final minutes to secured the win for Olympiakos over Marseille making the score 1-0.
Whereas, Porto had an early lead after Luis Diaz scored from the assist of Mateus Uribe. But Man City put 3 goals to make a comfortable win. Sergio Aguero was the one to make an equalizer from the penalty spot. Ilkay Gundogan then doubled the lead and Ferran Torres made the result 3-1 for the City.
Group D
Ajax was a bit unlucky against the visitors Liverpool as the only own goal from Nicolas Tagliafico cost them the 3 points. Few wonderful attempts of the Premier League champions were denied by Andre Onana, the goalkeeper for the Amsterdam side.
Midtjylland conceded 4 goals at home against Atalanta. Duvan Zapata, Alejandro Gomez, Luis Muriel, and Aleksey Miranchuk scored for the visitors to make the score 0-4.
Group E
Both games of the group of Europa Champions were tied and every team shared a mutual point. Chelsea vs Sevilla finished without a goal. Both teams created some chances but no one was able to touch the net. Yassine Bounou, the goalkeeper of Sevilla was awarded man of the match for his exceptional saves.
Likely, Rennes and FK Krasnodar resulted in 1-1. Serhou Guirassy (Rennes) took a lead with a penalty but only after a couple of minutes, C. Ramirez equalized for FK Krasnodar.
Group F
Lazio stole the important 3 points against Borussia Dortmund as Ciro Immobile scored a Champions League goal after 2142 days. It took only 6 minutes for him to score. He also provided an assist for J. Akpro winning the man of the match award. The goalkeeper Marwin Hitz (Dortmund) conceded an own goal while Erling Haaland netted a consolation making the score 3-1.
Zenit went 2 goals down at home against Club Brugge. Goals from Charles De Ketelaere and Emmanuel Bonaventure helped Club Brugge for a comfortable win. Ethan Horvath failed to keep a clean sheet as he conceded an own goal.
Group G
Juventus scored 2 away goals against FC Dynamo Kiev. Alvaro Morata, the man of the match scored twice to make the result 0-2. Cristiano Ronaldo is still unavailable due to Covid-19 infection.
Another fixture had Camp Nou hosting Ferencvarosi TC. Five different players netted for Barcelona to make the score 5-1. Leo Messi scored a penalty in the 27th minute after being fouled by Adnan Kovacevic inside D-box. Ansu Fati double the scored with an amazing first touch finish, assisted by Frenkie De Jong. Fati again assisted Philippe Coutinho to make the score 3-0.
In the 68th minute, Gerard Pique was sent off straight as he fouled Tokmac Chol Nguen inside the penalty area. Ihor Kharatin netted a consolation from the box. 10 man Barca still ruled out Ferencvarosi adding two more goals from 17 years old Pedri Gonzalez and Ousmane Dembele. It was an emotional moment for Dembele, the dressing room, and all Barca supporters to see Dembele scoring and assisting for the club after a long injury gap.
Group H
Jose Angelino scored double for RB Leipzig at home against Istanbul Basaksehir resulting in 2-0. Kevin Kampl and Christopher Nkunku (man of the match) provided the assist for Angelino.
Paris Saint-Germain hosts Manchester United, one of the most exciting matches of GW1. Nothing went expected as Man Utd revived the history in Paris. Two years ago in Parc des Princes, Man Utd knocked out PSG from the Round of 16 with an epic comeback through a key goal of Marcus Rashford. Likely, here in the group stage too, Rashford scored a late goal to make 1-2 on the board.
The gamble formation from the Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer worked well which pocketed PSG forwards, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe. The penalty of Bruno Fernandes was denied by the goalkeeper Keylor Navas but it was retaken (and netted by Bruno again) because Navas stepped outside from the goal line just before the penalty was taken. All the three goals of the match came from Man Utd as Anthony Martial conceded an own goal in the 55th minute as an equalizer.
This was it for Game Week 1 of the Champions League. I will update on further fixtures too, for that keep following Wikye.com
