The most prestigious membership competitors on Planet Futbol returned with aplomb on Tuesday because the group stage of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season kicked off.
The motion on a star-studded Match Day 1 did not disappoint, both.
Here are 5 fast takeaways:
Kylian Mbappé rescues sputtering PSG
It was honest to surprise how a lot Paris Saint-Germain’s assault would endure towards the remainder of the continent’s elite after shedding two of the game’s best attacking gamers – Lionel Messi and Neymar – over the summer season.
Things have not gone nice in Ligue 1, the place the Parisians sit fifth after beginning the season with a 2-1-2 document. But PSG nonetheless has maybe the sport’s finest present participant in Mbappe, and the French star received his aspect off on the proper foot within the Champions League by scoring the opener in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over German juggernaut Borussia Dortmund.
The hosts additionally nonetheless have Achraf Hakimi, who doubled the lead lower than 10 minutes later to seal the three factors for PSG in decisive style. The hope now for Luis Enrique’s males is that the confidence-building victory is sufficient to get the squad again on observe on each the European and home fronts.
AC Milan, Christian Pulisic may rue gradual begin
Coming on the heels of Saturday’s 5-1 humiliation to metropolis rival Inter Milan in Italy’s Serie A, AC Milan wanted to rebound in an enormous means in its Champions League opener towards England’s Newcastle. It did not occur.
Despite dominating on the sphere and the stat sheet, the Rossoneri – who outshot the guests 25-6 – have been unable to attain in entrance of their residence followers and settled for a scoreless draw. It’s a disappointing consequence, not least as a result of AC Milan, semifinalists final season, have been drawn into the dreaded Group of Death. That AC Milan’s subsequent two Champions League matches are away, first to Borussia Dortmund after which to Paris Saint-Germain, makes it even worse.
If one unhealthy match can torpedo a group on the highest degree, the identical holds true for gamers. Christian Pulisic was maybe supervisor Stefano Pioli’s prime performer by Milan’s first three home matches. But after the American struggled mightily towards Inter (together with everybody else), Pioli dropped Pulisic from his beginning lineup for Tuesday’s contest. Pulisic was energetic off the bench within the second half however could not produce the breakthrough. It’s nonetheless early, however after the final two video games, the place issues go for Pulisic and the Rossoneri is anybody’s guess.
Is Barcelona again?
When Barcelona did not qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League in 2021 for the primary time in additional than 20 years, it was a shock. When they received bounced within the group stage once more final yr, followers have been nearly resigned to the failure, viewing it because the maybe inevitable consequence of lastly transferring on from Messi and so lots of the different stars that had been the faces of the membership for the higher a part of two trophy-laden a long time.
Then, Barca used the frustration as motivation and went on a second half run to win the Spanish title over hated Madrid rivals Real and Atletico.
This yr, solely a deep run in Europe’s marquee match will do. It’s just one sport, however to date so good for the Spanish titans. Playing at residence Tuesday towards overmatched Champions League debutant Royal Antwerp, Xavi’s group steamrolled the Belgians, leaping out to a 3-0 lead inside 22 minutes on strikes by João Félix, Robert Lewandowski and an personal aim.
Gavi made it 4 early within the second half earlier than Félix notched his second aim to make it 5-0, which is the way it ended.
They will not all be this simple. Next month’s journey to Porto will reveal way more about the place Xavi’s group is. But after reeling off 5 consecutive wins and outscoring foes 18-4 alongside the best way, this Barcelona groups seems to be able to attaining – in any case — what its instant predecessors could not.
Manchester City, misfiring Erling Haaland survive Red Star scare
There was a second at halftime on the Etihad Stadium the place defending champs Manchester City, who have been trailing 1-0 to Red Star Belgrade, really seemed mortal.
It did not final lengthy. Normal order was restored simply two minutes after the intermission when Julian Alvarez scored the primary of his two objectives. Rodri, who had the one aim in final season’s triumphant Champions League last, rounded out the scoring within the 3-1 win.
Like in June in Istanbul, this was a uncommon sport during which Haaland did not add a aim of his personal. But the large Norwegian (who had no scarcity of probabilities) nonetheless contributed to the victory with a reasonably help on Alvarez’s equalizer.
Keeper’s aim highlights Tuesday’s motion
How uncommon is it for a goalie to attain from open play within the Champions League? Pretty uncommon. It occurred simply as soon as within the competitors’s first 31 seasons.
The second time got here Tuesday in Rome when, with hosts Lazio trailing Atletico Madrid in second half stoppage time, backstop Ivan Provedel got here ahead and headed residence the equalizer on the final play of the sport.
The 1-1 tie was most likely a good consequence in the long run, although, because the guests lone tally got here on a shot that took a fluky deflection off Lazio’s Daichi Kamada.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports who has coated United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
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Real Madrid / Manchester City
