Here’s what happened on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, in case you missed it…
READ ALL ABOUT IT
• Roundup: Red Star stuns Liverpool, Thierry Henry’s woes & more
SCOREBOARD
AS Monaco 0, Club Brugge 4 || Atletico Madrid 2, Borussia Dortmund 0 || Inter Milan 1, FC Barcelona 1 || Tottenham 2, PSV Eindhoven 1 || Red Star Belgrade 2, Liverpool 0 || Napoli 1, Paris Saint-Germain 1 || FC Porto 4, Lokomotiv Moscow 1 || Schalke 2, Galatasaray 0
WHAT STOOD OUT
Wild scenes in Serbia
Group C is living up to its nickname as the “Group of Death.” Two points separate first-place Napoli from last-place Red Star Belgrade after the Serbians posted an 2-0 upset win over Liverpool on Tuesday. All four teams in the group, which also includes PSG and Napoli, are in the running for the two knockout berths at stake, and the way things have gone so far you can expect the group to be decided on the final matchday in December.
While full credit must be given to Red Star for earning its first-ever Champions League victory, serious questions must be asked of Liverpool for the way it approached this game. Curiously, manager Jurgen Klopp did not start Roberto Firmino, and only subbed the influential Brazilian into the match in the second half when his side was down two goals. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane looked far from their best as part of a Liverpool attack that was toothless and lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
Red Star’s Milan Pavkov easily shrugged off Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum to get the ball onto his right foot before smashing a fierce shot past goalkeeper Alisson. That one play seemed to sum up Liverpool’s night in Belgrade – lackadaisical at times and far too casual.
Thierry Henry still looking for his 1st win
Club Brugge entered Matchday 4 mired in a streak of Champions League futility, with its last group-stage win in the competition coming 13 years ago. But Stade Louis II proved to be the perfect remedy for what ailed the Belgians, as they embarrassed AS Monaco in a 4-0 win. It was an enthralling performance by Brugge, who dominated proceedings – and rode its luck at times – to finally end its group-stage hoodoo.
You have to feel a bit sorry for Monaco coach Thierry Henry, who was hired last month as a replacement for Leonardo Jardim. The club has yet to earn a win in five matches under the Arsenal legend, and this loss combined with Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund officially eliminated Monaco from qualifying for the knockout round with two games remaining in the group stage. Monaco is also stuck in the relegation zone in Ligue 1, and is now winless in its last 15 contests in all competitions.
Buffon puts on a show
Gianluigi Buffon turned back the clock on Tuesday, coming up with a string of four fabulous saves early in the second half to keep Napoli off the scoreboard. His pair of stops to deny Belgian star Dries Mertens left fans in Naples seething, and the PSG goal was only finally breached when Lorenzo Insigne converted from 12 yards out, blasting his shot past Buffon.
It was a welcome return to the Champions League for Buffon, who was suspended for the first three games of the group stage. The 40-year-old shot stopper showed no signs of rust, though, coming up big after the halftime break when Napoli was surging and pinned PSG deep inside its half for long stretches.
[relatedlinks]
BEST GOAL
In the 24th minute, a fabulous through ball by Club Brugge’s Ruud Vormer caught AS Monaco’s back line flat-footed. Brazilian Wesley latched onto the pass, cut inside Monaco defender Kamil Glik and then curled a gorgeous shot from just outside the box past goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and inside the far post.
BEST MOMENT
The post-goal celebrations by Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan each time Red Star Belgrade scored were priceless.
https://twitter.com/WoodsIMFC/status/1059895728800059392
BEST GAME
Stadio San Paolo was a cauldron of nervous energy as hosts Napoli and PSG engaged in a tactical battle for the opening 45 minutes, before a breathless second half saw both sides throw caution to the wind. A wildly entertaining affair.
WORTH REPEATING
“I have to be positive, otherwise what can you do?” – AS Monaco coach Thierry Henry.
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
Hector Herrara was a driving force behind FC Porto’s attack, with his sharp passing skills helping the Portuguese control the game. Aside from opening the scoring against Lokomotiv Moscow in the second minute, he also added an assist just before halftime.
BEST TWEET
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Tuesday marked the first time that Liverpool conceded more than once in the opening half of a Champions League game since a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in October 2014.
• AS Monaco is the first French team to give up three goals in the first 25 minutes of a Champions League game at home.
• Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne is the first Italian player in Champions League history to score in five successive home matches in the competition.
• Harry Kane has been directly involved in 14 goals in 14 appearances in the Champions League for Spurs (12 goals and two assists).
• PSV’s Luuk de Jong scored the fastest goal in the Dutch club’s Champions League history (after 61 seconds).
• PSG has conceded nine penalties in its last 13 away Champions League games.
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS
1) Milan Pavkov, Red Star Belgrade: Scored two goals in a seven-minute span to give the Serbs a lead they wouldn’t relinquish against Liverpool.
2) Harry Kane, Tottenham: Bagged a brace to lift Spurs to a come-from-behind win and keep alive their hopes of advancing.
3) Guido Burgstaller, Schalke: Scored the opener on a heads-up play, and then set up the German side’s second goal of the night.
