Granit Xhaka (l.) congratulates double scorer Florian Wirtz (r.).Image: www.imago-images.de
FC Barcelona suffers its first defeat under coach Hansi Flick, while Granit Xhaka and Leverkusen continue to prove their class in the Champions League.
19.09.2024, 23:1919.09.2024, 23:27
Monaco – Barcelona 2:1
Monaco, with the Swiss trio Philipp Köhn, Denis Zakaria, and Breel Embolo, took advantage of the opportunity against FC Barcelona under the eyes of basketball legend Michael Jordan. Coach Adi Hütter’s team was able to play with one man more after a red card to Eric Garcia in the 10th minute.
Although the Monegasques conceded an equalizer in the 28th minute through Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old left Köhn without a chance after a brilliant solo effort with a low shot. However, Monaco also has a promising talent in the 18-year-old George Ilenikhena. He scored the winning goal in the 71st minute, making it 2:1. Thus, Barcelona lost a competitive match for the first time under German coach Hansi Flick.
Monaco – FC Barcelona 2:1 (1:1).
Referee Lindhout.
Goals: 16. Akliouche 1:0. 28. Yamal 1:1. 72. Ilenikhena 2:1.
Remarks: Monaco with Köhn, Zakaria, and Embolo. 10. Red card for Garcia (Barcelona).
George Ilenikhena (r.) celebrates his winning goal.Image: www.imago-images.de
Atalanta – Arsenal 0:0
Premier League club Arsenal could not get beyond a goalless draw against the Europa League winners. Mikel Arteta’s team can thank goalie David Raya that it even secured a point from Bergamo. The Spaniard saved a penalty from Mateo Retegui in the 51st minute and also reacted excellently to the follow-up shot. Overall, goal-scoring chances were rather rare.
Atalanta Bergamo – Arsenal 0:0.
Referee Turpin.
Rotterdam – Leverkusen 0:4
Leverkusen’s forward Florian Wirtz is currently one of the most sought-after footballers in the world. The market value of the 21-year-old is 130 million euros. In Rotterdam, he underscored once again why. Wirtz needed just over four and a half minutes in his first ever Champions League match to take the visitors into the lead with a precise low shot from about 18 meters out.
In the 36th minute, Wirtz doubled the lead after a straightforward counterattack and a cross from Alejandro Grimaldo, the scorer for 2:0 (30th), with a first-time finish in the box for 3:0. The Swiss Jordan Lotomba, playing for Feyenoord, did not look good here, as he could have easily kept up with Wirtz. Lotomba was substituted in the 61st minute. At Leverkusen, Swiss national team captain Granit Xhaka played until the 80th minute. He had his usual number of ball contacts but could not make a significant impact.
All four Leverkusen goals.Video: SRF
It was already 4:0 by halftime. And this against an opponent who last lost after 90 minutes in a serious match on December 13, 2023 – also in the Champions League against Celtic Glasgow (1:2).
Feyenoord Rotterdam – Bayer Leverkusen 0:4 (0:4).
Referee Massa.
Goals: 5. Wirtz 0:1. 30. Grimaldo 0:2. 36. Wirtz 0:3. 45. Wellenreuther (own goal) 0:4. – Remarks: Feyenoord with Lotomba (until 61st), Leverkusen with Xhaka (until 80th).
Atletico Madrid – Leipzig 2:1
In the end, there was great jubilation. In the 90th minute, Jose Maria Gimenez scored a header to make it 2:1 after Leipzig had trouble clearing the danger following a corner. Thus, Atletico Madrid secured the victory despite a misstart with a goal conceded by Benjamin Sesko in the fourth minute. Antoine Griezmann had equalized after just under half an hour.
Atlético Madrid – RB Leipzig 2:1 (1:1).
Referee Kruzliak.
Goals: 4. Sesko 0:1. 28. Griezmann 1:1. 90. Gimenez 2:1.
Brest – Graz 2:1
In the match between the French team Brest and Sturm Graz, which ended 2:1, there were two Swiss players who suffered misfortune. In the 6th minute, Graz defender Gregory Wüthrich had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after an unfortunate incident following a won header duel against Tomi Horvat. From the images, it is feared that Wüthrich has suffered a serious knee injury. This would be particularly bitter, as he had worked his way into the Swiss national team at the age of 29 thanks to his performances in Austria. He made his debut in Denmark on August 29.
Graz’s equalizer to make it 1:1 in first half stoppage time was an own goal by Edimilson Fernandes, the second Swiss player on the field. The 28-year-old inadvertently deflected a cross from William Böving into his own net with his chest. Thanks to Abdallah Sima’s goal (56th), Fernandes was still able to celebrate in the end.
Brest – Sturm Graz 2:1 (1:1).
Referee Walsh.
Goals: 23. Magnetti 1:0. 45. Fernandes (own goal) 1:1. 56. Sima 2:1.
Remarks: Brest with Fernandes (until 71st), Graz with Wüthrich, who left injured (6th). 89. Yellow-red card for Lavalée (Graz).
Roter Stern – Benfica 1:2
Benfica Lisbon emerged victorious against Red Star Belgrade in what was otherwise an evenly matched game, winning 2:1. Thanks to a strong start with goals from the two Turks Kerem Aktürkoglu and Orkun Kökcü, who scored a stunning free kick, in the first half hour, the Portuguese were able to manage their lead afterwards. It wasn’t until the 86th minute that Belgrade’s Milson added some tension. Two minutes later, the Swiss Zeki Amdouni was substituted in for the guests. The score did not change thereafter.
Roter Stern Belgrad – Benfica Lissabon 1:2 (0:2).
Referee Oliver.
Goals: 9. Aktürkoglu 0:1. 29. Kökcü 0:2. 86. Milson 1:2.
Remarks: Benfica with Amdouni (from 88th). (nih/sda)
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Leverkusen was at risk of not leaving its home ground as winners for the second consecutive time. Unlike in the first home game of the season, when they lost 2:3 to Leipzig, Granit Xhaka’s Swiss national team captain squad showed its championship face again.