There have been prime clashes, some underdogs gained mixed with breathtaking targets and saves that had been the spotlight of matchday 2 2 of the 2023-23 UEFA Champions League. The competitors within the league has been so fierce this season that every matchday has not less than three to 4 prime clashes.
This additionally signifies that irrespective of how massive a group is, they should again their identify with efficiency if they’re to qualify for the spherical of 16. After two video games, we even have a extra unambiguous indication of every group’s strengths and weaknesses.
Since 4 matchdays are nonetheless left to go within the group levels, there are nonetheless many probabilities for the groups with a poor begin to catch as much as these forward of them. Furthermore, the following two match days will see the identical two groups play one another and possibly determine the destiny of many groups by the point it’s over.
So, what did we be taught from matchday 2 of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League?
Manchester United are their very own worst enemies
Over the summer time, Manchester United made one essential change to their group: changing long-time primary David de Gea with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana. The logic for it was easy: Onana was nice with the ball at his ft, a talent De Gea lacked, which might enable United to play from the again easily.
Ten video games in robust, Onana’s ball-playing high quality is in critical query. With the sport’s rating at 2-2, the Cameroonian performed a really poor move that gave Dries Mertens a transparent likelihood on targets. This left Casemiro with no selection however to deal with and, within the course of, earned his second yellow. And whereas Mauro Icardi missed the penalty, he was available to attain the winner simply minutes later.
The sport additionally clearly indicated how the membership struggles in opposition to excessive press from the opposition. Onana was particularly dropped at counter this, however he has didn’t justify his price ticket and ball-playing expertise up to now.
Actual Madrid-Napoli play a thriller dominated by VAR controversy
Actual Madrid travelled to Napoli for a recreation that many anticipated to be a show-stopper, and it didn’t disappoint. The 2 groups play an attacking model of soccer, and the primary objective took simply 19 minutes when centre-back Leo Skiri Østigård received on the tip of a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia nook after a fumble by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Nonetheless, minutes later, he would go on to punish a mistake by Napoli as Jude Bellingham turned supplier for Vionicius Jr. Minutes later, although, Bellingham would name on the spirit of Deigo Maradona in a stadium named after him as he went previous 5 Napoli gamers to attain a stunner.
With their backs in opposition to the wall, Napoli got here again preventing. Nonetheless, regardless of having many probabilities, their equaliser got here from a controversial VAR evaluate that awarded them a penalty.
Actual Madrid, although, as they’ve carried out so many occasions, got here again with an excellent striker from a distance from Federico Valverde that, ultimately, was deemed as an personal objective by Napoli’s keeper Alex Meret.
Nonetheless, regardless of the win the best way the 2 groups performed, there may be little hope for both Union Berlin or SC Braga to complete within the prime two.
Arsenal let down by defensive errors
After profitable their opening recreation 4-0, Arsenal suffered their first lack of the Champions League season in opposition to RC Lens. And their goalkeeper, David Raya, was at fault for Lens’s first objective together with his wayward move close to his objective line.
To make issues worse, after the opening objective by Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners didn’t produce something significant in assault, barring the ultimate jiffy of the sport. Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard had been the worst of the bunch. On prime of that, Bukayo Saka additionally went off the pitch limping, together with his present damage standing not clear. With Arsenal welcoming league leaders Manchester Metropolis on the weekend, Mikela Arteta will likely be hoping for the provision of the English winger if he desires to win in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s males.
And with PSV and Sevilla additionally able to beating any group, Arsenal might want to put in higher performances to enter the spherical of 16.
Atletico Madrid fend off Dutch champions Feyenoord in a objective fest
The sport between Atletico Madrid and Dutch champions Feyenoord ended with 5 targets however might have simply seen ten with how the 2 groups performed. Diego Simeone’s males had been seconds away from three factors on matchday one earlier than Lazio’s goalkeeper Ivan Provedel turned hero with an elite strrikeresque end to degree the sport.
Nonetheless, with the second recreation at dwelling, the group wanted a win to spice up their marketing campaign. In Feyenoord, although, they confronted a formidable opponent. And Simeone may really feel fortunate to flee with three factors as his group scored from all three of their photographs that had been on course.
Feyenoord went into the lead two occasions however couldn’t cease the duo of Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata from first equalising after which scoring what turned out to be the winner. Feyenoord, although, seems to be more likely to take the second spot within the group and qualify for the spherical of 16.
Historic win for Newcastle
When referee Istvan Kovacs blew the ultimate whistle at St. James Park, it was not solely the tip of a recreation however almost certainly the beginning of a brand new period. Since their new house owners took cost, Newcastle United have been on the up. The membership added high quality gamers to the group, and it confirmed rapid outcomes because the membership completed fourth to qualify for the Champions League.
Nonetheless, on their return to the largest membership match, they put in an underwhelming efficiency in opposition to AC Milan. To make issues exhausting, their first Champions League recreation at dwelling was in opposition to a PSG aspect led by Kylian Mbappe. Newcastle wanted a great efficiency, however what they delivered will likely be added as a golden web page within the membership’s historical past.
Newcastle United got here out all weapons blazing from the beginning, executing the excessive press to perfection. That is what received them their first targets of the sport as Marquinhos fluffed his strains by taking part in a poor move, which left Alexander Isak one-on-one with Gianluigi Donarumma, who saved the preliminary shot however might say nothing in regards to the rebound that fell kindly on the ft of Miguel Almiron. Regardless of getting the objective, the hosts stored up the strain and shortly received their second after Dan Burns received on the tip of a Bruno Guimaraes cross.
It went from dangerous to worse for PSG, who conceded a 3rd objective 5 minutes into the second half as Donarumma made a large number of Sean Longstaff’s shot from a decent angle. PSG did get a objective again however failed so as to add a second in opposition to a resilient Magpies defence.
And when Fabien Schar put a fourth objective within the damage time it confirmed that Newcastle United had actually arrived on the greatest stage of all of them.
