Champions League roundup: Newcastle stun PSG, Man City triumph, and Barcelona edge past Porto
- Rob Fleming
- 5 October 2023
The Champions League brought thrilling action to football fans worldwide as local heroes and football giants battled for supremacy across Europe on Wednesday.
Here's a roundup of the key matches that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Newcastle's stunning return to Champions League
In a remarkable display of determination, Newcastle United made a triumphant return to the Champions League with a resounding 4-1 victory over French champions Paris Saint-Germain at St James' Park. Miguel Almiron ignited the crowd with Newcastle's first European goal since Alan Shearer's heroics in 2003. Local talents Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff extended the lead, while Fabian Schar sealed the deal with a superb strike. Although Lucas Hernandez briefly rekindled PSG's hopes, the Magpies' defense, led by Eddie Howe, kept star-studded PSG, including Kylian Mbappe, at bay.
Newcastle now tops the "group of death" after two games, with Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan settling for a goalless draw.
Manchester City's late surge
Defending champions Manchester City continued their title defense with a hard-fought 3-1 victory against RB Leipzig. Phil Foden opened the scoring for City, but Lois Openda's response kept Leipzig in the contest. However, late goals from Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku secured the win for City. The Premier League giants look poised to make another deep run in the tournament.
Red Star Belgrade's late drama
Red Star Belgrade showcased their resilience in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Young Boys. Cherif Ndiaye opened the scoring for Red Star, but Filip Ugrinic and Cedric Itten turned the tide in Young Boys' favor. However, Osman Bukari's late strike ensured that Red Star walked away with a well-earned point.
Barcelona's narrow victory
Barcelona maintained their perfect start in Group H with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Porto. A blunder from Romario Baro allowed Ferran Torres to capitalize and secure the crucial victory for Barcelona. Despite a late red card for Gavi, Barcelona held on to their lead, leaving Porto frustrated.
Antwerp's penalty heartbreak
Royal Antwerp suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk. Despite taking a two-goal lead through Arbnor Muja and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Antwerp saw their advantage slip away as Danylo Sikan and Yaroslav Rakitskiy struck for Donetsk. The match took a dramatic turn when Taras Stepanenko was penalized for handling the ball in the area, offering Antwerp a lifeline. However, Toby Alderweireld's missed penalty dashed their hopes of a comeback.
Celtic's late heartbreak
Celtic endured a late heartbreak in their Group E clash against Lazio. Kyogo Furuhashi's goal was canceled out by Matias Vecino, and substitute Luis Palma netted for Lazio in the 81st minute. Celtic thought they had equalized through Daizen Maeda, but VAR ruled it out for offside. The final blow came when former Barcelona and Chelsea forward Pedro headed home in stoppage time, securing a 2-1 victory for Lazio.
Atletico Madrid's comeback victory
In an entertaining encounter, Atletico Madrid twice came from behind to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over Feyenoord. Mario Hermoso's own goal and David Hancko gave Feyenoord the lead, but Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann responded for Atletico. Morata then completed his brace shortly after halftime, sealing a memorable comeback win for the Spanish side.
These electrifying Champions League matches have set the stage for an exciting group stage, and football fans eagerly anticipate more thrilling moments in the weeks to come.
