For the first time since 1978, Man United have conceded at least 3 goals in 3 consecutive games
MUNICH, Sep 21: Mathys Tel’s stoppage-time goal proved enough for Bayern Munich to beat Manchester United 4-3 in their Champions League opening game on Wednesday.
Tel scored with a spectacular finish in the second minute of injury time, restoring Bayern’s two-goal lead just when United threatened to pull off another remarkable comeback after Casemiro scored in the 88th.
Casemiro did score again in the fifth minute of stoppages with a header to Bruno Fernandes’ free kick, but this time there was no fairy-tale ending for United, which beat Bayern with two late goals to win the 1999 Champions League final.
United had forced the initiative early as the old rivals met again in the group stage, but Harry Kane’s penalty in the 53rd for 3-1 seemed to be the final blow for an injury-hit team low on confidence.
Arsenal make winning return
Arsenal made a stylish return to the Champions League by sweeping aside PSV Eindhoven 4-0 on Wednesday at Emirates Stadium after a six-year absence from the competition.
Arsenal seemed determined to make up for lost time and jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the 38th minute – with PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez having made a couple of good saves by then to prevent an even bigger scoreline.
In a game played in driving rain throughout, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all scored in the first half, before Martin Odegaard added the fourth with a long-range strike in the 70th.
Bellingham scores late
Jude Bellingham keeps delivering for Real Madrid. This time the heroics came in his Champions League debut with Real Madrid.
Bellingham helped extend Madrid’s perfect start to the season by scoring a stoppage-time goal in the team’s 1-0 win over newcomer Union Berlin in Group C on Wednesday.
It was Madrid’s sixth consecutive victory, with the other five coming in the Spanish league.
The newly signed Bellingham scored his sixth goal in as many matches with Madrid by picking up a loose ball inside the area and firing it into the open net four minutes into stoppage time.
Sevilla held by Lens
Sevilla couldn’t manage more than a 1-1 draw with Lens in their opening match of Group B in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Lucas Ocampos put the hosts ahead with a header in the ninth minute. Angelo Fulgini equalized for the French club with a powerful free-kick strike in the 24th at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
“We played better than they did,” Ocampos said.
“But these games are difficult. There’s a reason they are in the Champions League, they are a great team.”
Napoli edge Braga
A late own goal by Sporting Braga defender Sikou Niakate handed Italian champions Napoli a 2-1 away win in an entertaining Champions League Group C clash on Wednesday.
In a game of many missed chances, Napoli took the lead in first-half stoppage time through captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo after striker Victor Osimhen nodded the ball away from goal and the Italy defender seized his chance to bounce it in off the bar.
Inter held
Lautaro Martínez’s scoring streak continued as he helped Inter Milan snatch a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad and prevent what would have been a dream return to the Champions League for the Spanish side.
Brais Méndez’s early goal on Wednesday looked set to see Sociedad mark its first match back among Europe’s elite in a decade with an impressive win over last season’s runner-up.
And the 36,000 Sociedad fans in the stands were reveling in the occasion as their team played with relentless intensity, excitement and eagerness to dominate its more illustrious opponent.
But in the end it was made to pay for its profligacy as Martínez pounced with three minutes remaining, netting his sixth goal of the season.
Galatasaray stage late comeback
Galatasaray scored twice from the 86th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw at home with 10-man FC Copenhagen where they are outsiders up against Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
In a thrilling finish at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex, Sacha Boey reduced Galatasaray’s deficit by drilling a shot into the roof of the net before substitute Tete met a cross from Wilfried Zaha with a left-footed volley from the edge of the area that crept inside the near post in the 88th.
Copenhagen was coping well until the sending-off defender Jelert for a second booking in the 73rd.(PTI)