Manchester City’s quest for world domination took a while to get going at home to Red Star Belgrade. In truth this Champions League opener was a game of attack versus defence, and it just seemed like a matter of time until the Sky Blues went ahead. But the opening goal just wouldn’t go in. With 25 minutes on the clock Erling Braut Haaland met a Phil Foden cross but he crashed his header against the crossbar and, as half time approached, it was still 0-0.
But then…guess what?
Osman Bukari stunned the increasingly frustrated crowd at the Etihad, just before the break, when he burst through and slid the ball past Ederson. The offside flag went up but a VAR review judged the Red Star winger to be onside and the goal was given to send the away fans wild. Pep Guardiola couldn’t believe his eyes as the Sky Blues went into half time 1-0 down but 22 to one up in the shot count.
The Champions League 2023 betting odds here at SBOTOP price the Sky Blues at 3.00 to retain their title and so we sort of knew that wouldn’t be it!
And it took just two minutes of the second half for City to level as Haaland and Alvarez had a smart interchange before the Argentine striker rounded the keeper and fired home. Red Star keeper Omri Glazer had done everything he could to keep the Sky Blues at bay but he had a nightmare on the hour when he got a hand to a free-kick from Alvarez and diverted the ball in for 2-1. The man who scored City’s winner in the 2023 final, Rodri, then made it 3-1 with a fine finish.
Job done for the Sky Blues.
Pope earns Newcastle a first point
Goalkeeper Nick Pope put in a man-of-the-match performance to help Eddie Howe’s Newcastle earn a point in Milan and kick off their Champions League campaign with a 0-0 draw…a great result. The stats told a story of Rossoneri dominance at a packed San Siro Stadium, as the hosts had 25 shots to six and nine to one on target. But Pope kept Milan at bay with brilliant saves to deny Samuel Chukwueze, Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernandez, while Rafael Leao also came close for the hosts.
With ten minutes remaining Milan keeper Mike Maignan went off with a muscle injury and was replaced by Marco Sportiello; and the sub stopper had to do something his predecessor hadn’t; he made a save! Right at the death the Magpies could have snatched all three points when they broke away at speed. Harvey Barnes teed up Sean Longtstaff to hit a superb strike which Sportiello tipped over.
It would have been a fairytale start for Howe’s team but a defeat would have been terribly harsh on the Italians. Newcastle United’s debut in the Champions League was a huge moment for the Magpies and to take a 0-0 draw away from the seven times European Champions made it a night to remember.
Barcelona rampant
One of the most impressive Champions League 2023 results of the night came in Catalonia where Barcelona thumped Antwerp 5-0.
The Blaugrana have been disappointing in Europe over the past couple of campaigns but they made a fantastic start against the Belgian newcomers, going ahead on 11 minutes when Joao Felix took a pass from Ilkay Gundogan and drove his shot low into the bottom left corner. Within another eight minutes the Portuguese star turned provider as he squared for Robert Lewandowski to fire home. Jelle Bataille put through his own goal to make it 3-0 with only a quarter of the game gone.
Antwerp made it to half time, but they were 4-0 down early in the second half when Lewandowski teed up Gavi and he rifled his shot high into the top left corner. Joao Felix rounded the night off with his second goal, a deft header from a Raphinha corner.
Mbappe scores again
Paris Saint Germain started their campaign with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, a result which took them top of group F following the draw in Milan. Kylian Mbappe has scored seven of PSG’s ten goals in the league this season and manager Luis Enrique has been at pains to insist he is not in charge of a one-man team. But then Mbappe went and scored the opener against BVB after a goalless first half. On 47 minutes he saw his shot blocked by the hand of Niklas Sule and the referee pointed to the spot.
Mbappe converted the penalty with ease and PSG were on their way, and their first win was in the bag when Achraf Hakimi slotted home ten minutes later.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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