European Super Football

Eintracht Frankfurt 5 - 1 Galatasaray Eintracht Frankfurt recovered from an early setback to secure a commanding win over Galatasaray in their Champions League opener. Author | Ed Stadium | Deutsche Bank Park Pre-match scenes In a raucous atmosphere, the visitors struck first after only eight minutes. Former Manchester City winger Leroy Sané won possession in his own half, surged forward and slipped in Yunus Akgün, who finished neatly into the bottom corner. Frankfurt, however, turned the game on its head with three goals in the space of 12 minutes before the interval. Davinson Sánchez was unfortunate to turn the ball into his own net after Ugurcan Çakir had parried Ritsu Dōan’s effort.  Moments later, 19-year-old Turkey international Can Uzan scored against his country’s champions with an instinctive strike on the turn. On the stroke of half-time Galatasaray conceded a second own goal, Wilfried Singo heading past his own goalkeeper while attempting to clear a free-kick. Home fan...

Newcastle United 1 - 2 Barcelona Marcus Rashford made a spectacular Champions League bow for Barcelona as Newcastle United's campaign got off to a losing start at St James' Park. Author | Anthony Gates Stadium | St James' Park The forward, on loan from Manchester United, broke open a tense contest with two decisive second-half strikes that left Eddie Howe’s side chasing shadows. A closer analysis of what happened Howe had raised eyebrows with his team selection, opting to leave £69m summer signing Nick Woltemade on the bench and deploying Anthony Gordon through the middle. The experiment faltered as Newcastle found themselves increasingly overwhelmed by Barcelona’s control, with Rashford the clinical difference. It was an emphatic statement from Rashford, who featured in the tournament while on loan at Aston Villa last season, and who slotted seamlessly into Barcelona’s attack despite the absence of injured teenager Lamine Yamal . The 26-year-old received a standing ...

Manchester City 2 - 0 Napoli Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals as City were forced to dig deep in their victory over Napoli. Author | Macca Stadium | Etihad Stadium Haaland needed just 49 games to reach the milestone, nodding in a second-half header to put City on course for three points. Doku scored City's 2nd after 65 minutes to give them the perfect start.  The 2023 Champions League winners played most of the match against ten men after Giovanni di Lorenzo was sent off. A closer look at what happened City dominated possession as anticipated but Pep Guardiola will have been frustrated that his side were not ahead at the interval, despite a barrage of efforts that met an inspired Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the Napoli goal. The Serbian produced a series of outstanding saves, denying Tijjani Reijnders with a sharp stop, blocking Phil Foden’s low effort and turning away a fierce volley from Rodri. He also clawed out headers from Nico O’...

Ajax 0 - 2 Inter Milan Marcus Thuram scored twice as Inter Milan began their Champions League campaign with a convincing win at Ajax.  Author | Ed Stadium | Johan Cruijff ArenA Thuram headed in from two Hakan Calhanoglu corners, one in each half, to continue his excellent start to the season. The 28-year-old now has five goals in four games across all competitions, providing last season’s beaten finalists with the perfect response as they look to move on from their heavy defeat by Paris St-Germain in May’s final. A closer analysis of what happened Cristian Chivu, who succeeded Simone Inzaghi after that loss, kept faith with much of the side that started in Munich, naming eight of the same players. He was rewarded with a fluent and assured performance, Thuram at the heart of it. With Lautaro Martínez left on the bench due to a back issue, the former Borussia Monchengladbach forward carried the main attacking threat throughout. Thuram had gone close before his opener, flashing on...

PSG 4 - 0 Atalanta Paris St-Germain began the defence of their Champions League crown in emphatic fashion with a commanding win over Atalanta at the Parc des Princes. Author | Andrea Stadium | Parc des Princes The holders, who lifted their first European title with a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in May, quickly imposed themselves on another Serie A opponent. Marquinhos struck inside three minutes, steering in Fabian Ruiz’s low cross from the left. Luis Enrique’s side created a flurry of chances as Nuno Mendes fired narrowly wide, teenager Senny Mayulu saw an effort deflected over and Marco Carnesecchi produced fine saves to keep out Bradley Barcola and Achraf Hakimi. The pressure eventually told when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead before half-time, the Georgian skipping past defenders and rifling home from 18 yards. Enrique, who had taken a vantage point high in the stands for the opening half, saw his side handed the chance to extend their advantage from the spot after Yu...

Bayern Munich 3 - 1 Chelsea Harry Kane took full advantage of Chelsea’s defensive frailties to score twice for Bayern Munich. Author | Lewis W Stadium | Allianz Arena The England captain, now 32, opened the scoring from the penalty spot after being fouled by Moisés Caicedo and later sealed the win with a curling finish after Malo Gusto ’s misplaced pass. Chelsea had already gifted Bayern a lead when Trevoh Chalobah diverted the ball into his own net. A returning Cole Palmer offered brief hope with a superb strike into the top corner on his 100th appearance for the club, but the revival never truly gathered momentum. READ MORE |  Virgil van Dijk the hero as Liverpool leave it late again READ MORE |  Arsenal start Champions League campaign with a win There were warnings in the second half, with Michael Olise spurning a chance and Kane also misfiring when Chelsea were pushing for an equaliser. Any lingering optimism was extinguished when Kane punished Gusto’s mistake in...

Liverpool 3 - 2 Atletico Madrid Arne Slot's side are certainly making a habit of these late winners. This time it was Virgil van Dijk with the deciding goal. Author | William G Stadium | Anfield Virgil van Dijk’s header in the 92nd minute sealed the victory, marking the third time this season that the side have struck in stoppage time.  Arne Slot’s side had looked in danger of letting the game slip away after surrendering a two-goal lead, established inside the opening six minutes by Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah. Marcos Llorente scored twice for Atletico , but Liverpool’s habit of finding late winners endured. A closer look at what happened Liverpool made the perfect start, taking the lead inside four minutes in fortunate circumstances. Salah’s low free-kick deflected off Robertson, wrong-footing Jan Oblak and finding the net. Two minutes later, the Reds doubled their advantage with a slick move. Salah exchanged passes with Ryan Gravenberch before calmly finishi...