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Matchday Two of the Champions League group stage is wrapped up, offering followers with late drama, upsets and loads of targets. We requested our writers Rob Dawson, Alex Kirkland and Mark Ogden to reply a few of our burning questions.
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What caught your consideration from Matchday Two?
Kirkland: Final 12 months’s winners Real Madrid have a behavior of underperforming within the first Champions League sport of the season on the Bernabeu — they had been crushed 2-1 by unfancied Sheriff Tiraspol final 12 months, misplaced 3-2 to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2020 and got here again to attract 2-2 with Club Brugge in 2019 — however there was no such slip-up this time towards RB Leipzig.
The guests had appeared harmful, creating some early possibilities, but it surely was Madrid who had been extra scientific: Fede Valverde opening the scoring together with his fifth objective involvement in his final six video games earlier than Marco Asensio completed the job in added time.
Dawson: Membership Brugge have by no means been past the group levels of the Champions League however after thumping FC Porto 4-0 in Portugal on Tuesday, the Belgian aspect sit prime of Group B with two wins from two. On Matchday One, they beat Bayer Leverkusen, who recorded a formidable results of their very own on Tuesday with 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
It signifies that Membership Brugge are three factors clear on the prime after two video games forward of back-to-back video games towards Atletico in October. Regardless of being the lowest-ranked seeds within the group, they’ve given themselves an ideal likelihood of qualifying for the knockout rounds.
Ogden: Joao Cancelo’s move. Everybody will rightly discuss in regards to the audacity of Erling Haaland‘s late objective for Manchester City of their 2-1 win over his former membership Borussia Dortmund on the Etihad — a left-foot volley on the far submit — however you’ll not see a greater move all season than the one which Cancelo delivered for Haaland to attain.
Cancelo, Metropolis’s right-footed left-back, despatched the ball into the Dortmund penalty space with the skin of his proper foot and the curl of the ball enabled noticed it transfer away from the goalkeeper and allow Haaland to attain. It was a surprising move which solely a world-class participant might produce.
Which massive golf equipment will battle to make it to the knockout stage?
Kirkland: Atletico Madrid by no means have a simple time within the teams. In every of the final three seasons, they’ve solely confirmed their development to the knockout stage on Matchday Six, needing nervy away wins at FC Salzburg in 2020-21 and Porto in 2021-22. This 12 months, Atletico’s Group B might be simply as unpredictable and one other journey to Porto on Nov. 1 might be decisive.
– O’Hanlon: Ranking every Champions League team this season (E+)
As for the opposite LaLiga groups, Barcelona did sufficient in defeat at Bayern to recommend final 12 months’s group stage exit will not be repeated, whereas Sevilla are in bother already with a degree from two video games.
Dawson: Rangers are again within the group levels of the Champions League for the primary time since 2010 however they’re discovering it powerful on their return. Backside of Group A after two defeats and with a document of no targets scored and 7 conceded, it is going to be very arduous to qualify from right here.
They might have already got their sights set on ending third to earn a spot within the Europa League however even that’s going to be a giant ask with back-to-back video games towards Liverpool subsequent up. They want six factors from their two remaining dwelling video games towards Liverpool and Ajax to face any likelihood of remaining in Europe past Christmas.
Ogden: It isn’t wanting good for Juventus, who’ve but to select up a degree in Group H following back-to-back defeats towards Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica. Juve have misplaced Paulo Dybala, Matthijs de Ligt and Giorgio Chiellini because the finish of final season, whereas injured summer time signing Paul Pogba is dealing with weeks on the sidelines, so it’s powerful to see how Massimiliano Allegri’s staff can get out of the outlet they’re in.
In the event that they fail to win twice towards Maccabi Haifa within the subsequent two video games, it’s going to be throughout for the Italian giants.
Who’re probably the most spectacular younger gamers below 21?
Kirkland: The outcome did not find yourself going their method however Pedri (19) and Gavi (18) confirmed why they’re the midfield current and future for Barcelona — and Spain — within the 2-0 loss at Bayern. The efficiency was ok to recommend that Barca are as soon as once more a staff to be taken severely at this stage.
Elsewhere, an under-the-radar decide is Sevilla right-back Jose Angel Carmona (20). He is had fairly per week, scoring twice in a 3-2 LaLiga win at Espanyol on the weekend and looking out like certainly one of Sevilla’s most achieved gamers in a 0-0 draw away at Copenhagen in simply his second Champions League look.
Dawson: Jurrien Timber was linked with a transfer to Manchester United in the summertime and you’ll see why after his efficiency for Ajax towards Liverpool on Tuesday. Ajax misplaced the sport at Anfield 2-1 due to a late Joel Matip header however Timber’s valuation will solely have elevated after one other spectacular show.
Amongst different issues, the 21-year-old Netherlands worldwide confirmed a maturity to play in a posh function which noticed him push into midfield from his place at centre-back. He may not have gotten his transfer this summer time however it may solely be a matter of time earlier than Europe’s heavyweight golf equipment come calling once more.
Ogden: Jude Bellingham produced one other top of the range efficiency, and a objective, throughout Borussia Dortmund’s conflict with Manchester Metropolis on Wednesday, however the 19-year-old midfielder appears as if he has been on the Champions League scene for years. In case you’re searching for kids who’re simply bursting onto the scene, then Membership Brugge defender Abakar Sylla is the breakout teenager this season. Simply 19, the Ivorian has been excellent for the Belgian staff, who’ve received two out of two and are prime of Group B to this point.
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