UEFA Champions League ROUND-UP: Matchday 5

By now most of us might have confirmed in our heads on teams who will reach the round of 16 and the ones dropping out in the Europa and out of the tournament. The first-placed teams in most of the groups are destined to qualify while the main talk of concern remains for those who are in the second and third position, for which a confirmation lies in the final match week 6 of the Champions League.  

Group - E

Feyenoord vs Atletico Madrid  

Final score line: 1-3  

Scorers: L Geertruida (13’) own goal  

               Mario Hermoso (57’) assisted by Pablo Barrios  

               M Wieffer (77’) assisted by L Ivanusvic

               Santiago Giminez (81’) own goal  

Match facts: Atletico is through to the round of 16 of the Champions League season 2023/2024. The Madrid club secured a comfortable win over Feyenoord who fought hard but couldn’t prevent themselves from getting beaten by the Los Rojiblancos. It was unfortunate for the Holland club to concede two own goals through the game but Atletico dominated the whole of the encounter.

Group - F  

PSG vs Newcastle  

Final score line: 1-1

Scorers: Alexander Isak (24’)

               Kylian Mbappe (90+8) Penalty  

Match facts: It would have been a shock to the world to see both the Encounters go towards Newcastle as they yet again led the match for almost 3 quarters of the game when an unfortunate penalty, in the end, made Kylian Mbappe score a vital goal to earn a point out of nowhere. It’s a very tough fight for the qualification spot in the group of death as it goes to the final match of the group stage to decide who goes further or not.

AC Milan vs Dortmund

Final score line: 1-3

Scorers: Marco Reus (10’)  

Penalty  

               Samuel Chukwueze (37’) assisted by Davide Calabria  

               Bynoe-Gittens (53’) assisted by Marcel Sabitzer

               Karim Adeyemi (69’) assisted by Marco Reus

Match facts: A missed Penalty by veteran Olivier Giroud stopped the momentum building for the Milan side as they lost 3-1 to Ferman giants Borussia Dortmund. Captain Marco Reus proved to be the difference maker as he scored a Penalty to give his side the lead by rounding off the game by assisting Karim Adeyemi who wanted to end his goal drought.

Group - G

Manchester City vs RB Leipzig

Final score line: 3-2

Scorers: Lois Openda (13’) assisted by J Blaswich

              Lois Openda (33’) assisted by Xavi Simons  

              Erling Haaland (54’) assisted by Phil Foden  

              Phil Foden (70’) assisted by Jasko Gvardiol

              Julian Alvarez (87’)

Match facts: a night where Lois Openda would have made people talk only about him went in vain as the two-goal lead for the Redbull own franchise was given away as Erling Haaland made yet another record of becoming the fastest player to score 50 Champions League goals. Phil Foden was instrumental as well with an assist and goal with Julian Alvarez crowning the game for the English champions by scoring the winner.

Young Boys vs Crevena Zvezda  

Final score line: 2-0

Scorers: K Nedeljkovic (8’) own goal

               L Blum (29’) assisted by Mohamed Camara

Match facts: Young Boys now have a fair chance to qualify for the Europa League and not drop down to nothing in the European competitions as their win against Sevian champions was a necessary one to remain in contention for the smaller tournament. Crevena Zvezda is out of the Champions League and if not, it possibly will be confirmed to them by the end of the next match.

Group - H

FC Barcelona vs Porto  

Final score line: 2-1

Scorers: Pepe (30’)

               Joao Cancelo (32’) assisted by Gavi

               Joao Felix (57’) assisted by Joao Cancelo

Match facts: It was the Portuguese duo of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix who were the protagonists in the win against their familiar competitors FC Porto during their Portuguese league times. Cancelo was on target right after Porto had taken the lead and proved to be the assist provider for his fellow Countrymen to win the game desperate to trail a goal during the first half itself.

Group - A

Galatasaray vs Manchester United  

Final score line: 3-3  

Scorers: Alejandro Garnacho (11’) assisted by Bruno Fernandes  

               Bruno Fernandes (18’) assisted by Luke Shaw

                Hakim Ziyech (29’)

                Scott McTominay (55’) assisted by Aaron Wan Bissaka  

                Hakim Ziyech (62’)

                K Aktukoglu (71’) assisted by Hakim Ziyech  

Match facts: The hugest scoring game among all the matches played on the first day of the Champions League. Hakim Ziyech was familiar with the Manchester United squad but who knew he’d be involved in all the goals scored by his team to earn a well-deserved draw from nothing despite trailing behind twice with two goal margins in each of the phases.

Group - B

Sevilla vs PSV

Final score line:  2-3

Scorers: Sergio Ramos (24’) assisted by Ivan Rakitic  

               En-Nesyri (47’) assisted by Marcos Acuna  

               Ismael Saibiri (68’) assisted by Sergio Dest  

               Nemanja Gudelj (81’) own goal  

               Ricardo Pepi (90+2’) assisted by Y Vertessen

Match facts: Sergio Ramos became the oldest player to score the most number of Champions League goals as a defender but was sent off by the ref after a VAR decision confronted him to overturn his second yellow. It was that moment when the Netherlands giant started to pull off a great comeback to win during the 90+2 minute when Ricardo Pepi scored to crown them the winners.

Cover Credits: Eurosport