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Showing posts from March, 2024
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 Feyenoord 2-0 Celtic:  Nine -player Hoops fall to defeat in chaotic Champions League Opener As Feyenoord beat Celtic 2-0 in their Champion League opener; Calvin Stengs' free kick put the hosts ahead; Gustaf Lagerbielke was sent off with Odin Thiago Holm also shown red; Alireza Jahanbakhsh madeit 2-0 ; Feyenoord also missed a penalty and had two goals disallowed.  
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Galeno double gives FC Porto UCL Win over Shakhtar Donestk Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk has a losing start at their new, temporary home in Germany as Galeno scored two goals and set up a third to Help FC Porto ease to a 3-1 win over Shakhtar in the Champions league on Tuesday. Shakhtar were welcomed by a near capacity crowd of more than 46,700 at the Volksparkstadion in its first "home'' game in Germany. UEFA has ruled they cant play home European games in Ukraine because of Russian invasion. Despite the support for shakhtar, it took Porto less than eight minutes to open the scoring as Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk, back from injury, palmed a speculative shot away into the path of Galeno, who pounced to score.   
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 Last year's Champions League finalists snatched a late point in Spain through Lautaro Martinez Lautaro Martinez struck late to snatch last season's Champions League runners-up Inter Milan a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on Wednesday, denying the Spanish side a triumphant return to the competition after a decade away.  Brais Mendez's early goal split the sides in San Sabastian for most of the night but the host spurned several opportunities to build on their lead in an intense showing that left Simone Inzaghi's team bruised but not beaten. The Basque side's performance was all the more notable given inter 5-1 derby thrashing of rivals AC Milan on Saturday which kept team top of Italy's Serie A. Imanol Alguacil's team came out strongly, with Mendez drawing a save from Yann Sommer before Ander Barrenetxea hit the post in a frantic opening. Real Sociedad may have waited 10 years to get back into Champions League, but it only took them four minutes to go ahead.
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 Sikou Niakate Own Goal Gifts Serie a Opening game  There was late heartbreak for SC Braga as Sikou Niakate's 88th minute's own goal consigned them to a 2-1 defeat in their first Champions League game in a decade. Serie A Champions Napoli led through Giovanni Di Lorenzo's strike in the first-half stoppage time but Braga looked like they had earned a point when Bruma's brilliant header drew them level in the 84th minute only to be denied in cruel fashion.
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 Late Drama as the Turkish Champions Stun Visitors to Earn Point on Champions League Return  Galatasaray made a mark on their Champions League return, scoring two late goals in 2-2 draw against 10-man Copenhagen. The Turkish champions fell behind to Mohamed Elyounoussi's stunning striker before Diego Goncalves Doubled their deficit in the second half. A red card for Copenhagen's Elias Jelert Changed the game and goals from Sancha Boey and Tete earned Galatasaray an unlikely point. 
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 Sevilla's Old Guard Unable to See through Lens Sevilla went with opposite approach to Salzberg. With Sergio Ramos and Jesus Navas both featuring for Sevilla tonight against Lens, it was the first time a team have field two outfield players age 37+ in a Champions League game since Manchester United did so in December 2012 (Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs vs CFR Cluj). However, despite all that experience and all the medals they have between them, Jose Luis Mendilibar's  team were unable to beat their French opponents at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. It started so well enough for the UEFA Europa League holder's, with Lucas Ocampos giving them the lead in the ninth minutes with a flicked header past Brice Samba. Since Mendilibar took charge if Sevilla in march, only Youssef En-Nesyri ( nine) has been directly involved in more goals than Ocampos in all competitions (six-four goals and two assist).  Lens were level soon after though as Angelo Fulgini smashed in a superb free...
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Arsenal Blow PSV Away with Fast Start  Arsenal's most recent Champions League game is finally not a 5-1 humbling defeat at home to Bayern Munich. Instead, it's now a very comfortable 4-0 home victory against PSV Eindhoven. It's safe to say the first big European night for this new Arsenal era could not have gone better. Key behind their dominant win was their splendid first-half performance, as they raced out of the blocks and caught their visitors cold. Bukayo Saka's eighth-minute goal was the earliest Arsenal have ever scored in their opening match of a UEFA Champions League campaign, and it was one of seven shots on target they had in the first half, as their 10 shots overall brought them a total of 1.85 expected goals.
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Goal and Assist for Kane as Onana Howler Hands Bayern Win Against Man Utd Manchester United's return to the Champions League could barely have been more difficult, and though they showed some late fight, it was in vain as Bayern Munich won 4-3 at the Allianz Arena, with Harry Kne grabbing a goal and an assist. It means that United have now conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games for first time since December 1978 under Dave Sexton.  Andre Onana's error for Bayern's opener will grab the headlines, but in fairness, the former Ajax and Inter Milan goalkeeper hasn't really been to blame for Man Utd's poor start to the season. He's faced 29 shot on target in his five Premier League games, conceding nine. Only five Premier League teams have faced more shots on target this season. 
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Jude Bellingham Saves Real Madrid Once Again As far as places to make your Champions League debut go, the Santiago Bernabeu is one of the worst (or best, depending on your disposition) stadiums to do it. Nevertheless, that was the task of the tournament newcomers Union Berlin, and they got heartbreakingly close to earning a valiant point. But Real Madrid's new golden boy, Jude Bellingham, had other ideas, popping up in Union Berlin box to score a 94th minute winner. Given his remarkable start to life in Madrid the Englishman already has five goals in fives La Liga Games, including three match winners it was hard to imagine Bellingham's star rising any higher in the Spanish capital. But European nights are that extra bit special for Carlo Ancelotti's men, and Bellingham delivered once again when hos side needed him.     
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Goalkeeper's Heroics Steal the Show   Goalkeepers scoring from play in the Champions league game are rare sight. It had occurred only once in the competition's history-until now. During the match between Lazio trailing in stoppage time, goalkeeper Ivan Prevedel made an incredible leap forward to head home the equalizer on the last play of the game. The match ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw, with both teams showcasing their resilience. The UEFA Champions League's opening matches set the stage for an exhilarating season filled with drama, surprises, and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned for more action from the world's most prestigious club competition.
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 Manchester City's Comeback  Defending champions Manchester city faced an unexpected challenge when they trailed 1-0 against Red Star Belgrade at halftime. However, they quickly regrouped, with Julian Alvarez scoring two crucial goals shortly after the break. Rodri sealed a 3-1 victory, and despite Erling Haaland's uncharacteristic goalless performance, his assist played a pivotal role. Manchester City remains a formidable contender in the competition.   
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Barcelona's Resurgence?  Barcelona faced consecutive early exits from the Champion League, raising doubts about their capabilities. However, they bounced back last season by clinching the Spanish title. This year, the expectations are high, and their opening match against Royal Antwerp showed promise. Barcelona secured a resounding 5-0 victory, with Joao Felix, Robert Lewandoski, and an own goal contributing to the early lead. Gavi added another goal in the second half. While tougher challenges lie ahead, Barcelona's recent form hints at a brighter future.
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AC Milan's Struggle Continues  After a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Inter Milan in Serie A, AC Milan sought redemption in the champions league against Newcastle. Despite dominating possession and outshooting their opponents 25-6, AC Milan couldn't find the back of the net, settling for a disappointing goalless draw. This result stings even more as AC Milan faces a tough Group of death and their next two matches are on the road. Christain Pulisic, once a standout, faced a challenging match, leaving his future performance uncertain.
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  2023-24 UEFA Champions Leagues: A Thrilling Kickoff With 14 Key Moments   The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season kicked off with a flurry of excitement, showcasing the world's elite clubs. Let's explore the top moments from match day 1:  Mbappe Shines as PSG Triumphs Questions loomed over Paris Saint-Germain's offensive prowess following the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar. Their domestic form had been lackluster, but PSG still possessed Kylian Mbappe, one of the world's best players. Mbappe led the charges with a goal in their 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund. Achraf Hakimi added another goal, instilling hope that PSG can regain their form in both European and domestic competitions.     

INTRODUCTION

Hellow everyone my name is Sbongiseni Ndlela I'm Public Relations Management student at university of Zululand. I come from a very small town called Impendle in Pietermaritzburg. On this blogger I'm going to share with you a thrilling moment of UEFA Champion League night opening match of day 1 and day 2 season 2023/24. Oh, by the way I'm huge fan of soccer national and international in short, I'm soccer enthusiasm.