2023-11-08 01:15:14
Griezmann in the light, Lewandowski in the shadows. REUTERS / JUAN MEDINA / REUTERS / CATHRIN MUELLER
Julian Brandt shone with Dortmund, Daizon Maeda crushed his team… Discover the tops and flops of the Champions League evening.
Tops
Antoine Griezmann in masterclass mode
What a match produced by the French international! Author of his 163rd and 164th goals in the Colchoneros jersey, the darling of the Estadio Metropolitano wrote a new line in his long history with Atletico Madrid during his team’s big victory against Celtic Glasgow (6-0) . Scorer for the opening score with a beautiful low strike (6′), he celebrated by kissing the crest of the Spanish capital club. Just before half-time, it was again he who delivered a caviar on Alvaro Morata’s goal, with a long ball for Gimenez. But above all, he scored what will perhaps be the goal of this Champions League day. On a cross from Llorente, he deceived the goalkeeper with a beautiful acrobatic scissor. Which allowed him to get a little closer to the top scorer in the club’s history, Luis Aragonés, who peaked at 173 goals. Always fair in his choices, comfortable in small areas, the leader with blond hair (at the moment) reigned supreme over the meeting.
Julian Brandt sparkling
What a match from the German international! Three days after the monumental slap received at home during the Klassiker against Bayern (3-0), Borussia had to show a completely different face in front of its supporters. Mission accomplished by the residents of Signal Iduna Park, who were able to count on a sparkling Julian Brandt to lead them to victory. It is he who signs the first firecracker of the evening in the seventh minute, but his powerful shot goes over. After numerous successful dribbles in the first half, he forced Nick Pope to save at the start of the second half (50′, 58′). Threatening with his quality as a center, he scored the break goal (79′) with a beautiful cross shot, leaving the Magpies goalkeeper no chance. A solid performance which allows BVB to be well placed to qualify for the round of 16.
Leipzig jostled but qualified
How hard it was for Leipzig! Opposed to Red Star Belgrade, Marco Rose’s men quickly opened the scoring. Xavi Simons, still excellent, made the powder speak in the eighth minute. After a solo slalom, he scored with a delightful curling shot. And while the locals were pushing to return to equality, Loïs Openda went off alone to score the break goal. Jostled at the end of the match, cornered on their surface, the Germans gave in for the first time with an own goal from Henrichs. But they were able to resist collectively in the final moments, led by a Lukeba-Simakan hinge which was impeccable. Leipzig leaves Belgrade with qualification in hand.
Flops
Lewandowski next to the plate
While FC Barcelona could qualify if they did not lose in Ukraine, and sign a return to the round of 16 of the Champions League two years after their last appearance at this level of the competition, Xavi’s men failed on the lands of Shakhtar Donetsk. And we cannot say that they were helped by the one who generally assumes the status of goleador. In a complicated period in Spain, remaining in four matches without scoring, Robert Lewandowski failed to impact the match. Starting at the kick-off, the Polish striker only hit twice on goal for 0 shots on target. In the second half, he missed the opportunity to open the scoring after a good cross from prodigy Yamine Lamal. Too little for a player of his status, from whom FC Barcelona legitimately expects more.
Daizon Maeda leads the Celtic
Celtic Glasgow went through real hell at the Wanda Metropolitano. Opposed to Atletico Madrid, the Scots could still qualify if they won in Spain. But very quickly, following Griezmann’s opening score in the 6th minute, the Scots knew it was going to be difficult. And Daizon Maeda didn’t help maintain the suspense. In the 22nd minute, following a sole tackle on Hermoso’s shin, the Japanese first received a yellow. But the color of the card changed after the match referee went to consult the VAR. Sent off much too early, he left his teammates outnumbered for most of the game.
Antwerp heads towards zero points
At the end of this fourth Champions League match, Royal Antwerp still does not have a single point on its record. Opposed to FC Porto, the Belgian club missed too many opportunities to hope for better than a defeat (2-0). Too bad, as the oldest club in the history of the flat country has shown good intentions. The turning point of the match came in the 91st minute, when the Belgians missed the opportunity to equalize before Pepe scored the break goal. Hence the importance of experience in football.
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