The quest for the coveted title in European club football has resumed with the commencement of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage, as teams fight for the ultimate glory.
The kickoff of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage delivered an abundance of exceptional performances, with reigning champions Manchester City, as well as Paris and Barcelona, standing out as some of the most prominent victors.
Furthermore, customary late-game excitement added to the spectacle when Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel netted an equalizer in added time against Atlético de Madrid.
Lazio 1-1 Atlético de Madrid
Lazio’s goalkeeper, Ivan Provedel, rose to the occasion by scoring a last-minute header to secure a draw in their return to Champions League action.
Despite dominating possession, the home team faced consistent challenges from Jan Oblak, who guarded the visitors’ goal admirably.
In a twist of fate, Atleti managed to take the lead against the run of play when 20-year-old Pablo Barrios saw his low shot deflected past Provedel.
Nonetheless, it was Provedel who had the last word, as he ventured forward for a corner in added time and redirected Luis Alberto’s delivery into the net.
Feyenoord 2-0 Celtic
Feyenoord clinched all three points in a dramatic second-half sequence that witnessed Celtic receiving two red cards, a saved penalty by Joe Hart, and conceding a second goal. The hosts initially took the lead at the end of the first half courtesy of Calvin Stengs’ expertly taken free-kick.
Following the dismissals of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm, and with Joe Hart thwarting Igor Paixão’s penalty attempt, Alireza Jahanbakhsh sealed the Dutch champions’ victory with their second goal.
PSG 2-0 Dortmund
Paris initiated their campaign with a well-earned win, extending their remarkable streak of scoring in 45 consecutive Champions League group stage matches, thanks to a clinical second-half performance.
In the first half, the hosts controlled the game, with their best opportunity coming from Vitinha, who struck the post.
However, after the break, Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty following a handball by Niklas Süle, propelling the French side into the lead.
Achraf Hakimi then sealed the victory against his former club with a composed finish shortly before the hour mark.
AC Milan 0-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle secured a well-deserved point in their comeback to the competition, marking their return after an absence since the 2002/03 season.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope showcased his skills by thwarting Tommaso Pobega, Rafael Leão, and Samuel Chukwueze in rapid succession during the early stages of the match.
The Magpies came close to scoring with their solitary shot on target, out of the nine attempts made by both teams.
In second-half added time, Marco Sportiello, who had replaced the injured Mike Maignan, was forced to tip Sean Longstaff’s rising strike over the crossbar.
Man City 3-1 Crvena zvezda
Manchester City, the reigning Champions League champions, had to mount a comeback after falling behind, but their stylish second-half performance secured the victory.
Early in the match, Erling Haaland’s header rattled against the crossbar, and the visiting goalkeeper, Omri Glazer, made a series of impressive saves.
However, it was Osman Bukari who surprised everyone by breaking through and beating Ederson to give his team a shock lead.
Just moments into the second half, Haaland played a key role, setting up Julián Álvarez, who skillfully rounded Glazer and tapped the ball into the net.
Later in the match, Glazer’s misfortune continued as he could only punch a free-kick from Álvarez into his own net. Rodri, who had scored the decisive goal in the final back in June, put the finishing touch on the victory with a beautifully curled shot.
Young Boys 1-3 Leipzig
Xaver Schlager delivered the decisive blow with 17 minutes remaining, breaking the hosts’ resistance in Berne.
Leipzig got off to a strong start, with Mohamed Simakan finding the net within three minutes to make it 1-0.
However, Young Boys (YB) settled into the game and equalized shortly after the half-hour mark, thanks to the excellent play of Meschack Elia.
The visitors continued to press and eventually reclaimed the lead through Schlager before Benjamin Šeško’s late counterattack sealed the victory.
Barcelona 5-0 Antwerp
Barcelona showcased their dominance during a relentless 11-minute period in the first half, allowing them to surge ahead of group-stage newcomers Antwerp.
It was a night highlighted by João Félix’s outstanding performance for the five-time champions.
The Portuguese forward kickstarted the scoring by drilling in the opening goal, and he promptly turned into an assist provider, setting up Robert Lewandowski to volley in the second goal.
Jelle Bataille, unfortunately for Antwerp, turned the ball into his own net. In the second half, Gavi added a fourth goal with a powerful strike, and Félix capped off the victory with a header as Xavi Hernández’s team delivered a commanding performance.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Porto
Porto swiftly established an early advantage as Galeno capitalized on a rebound within the opening ten minutes.
However, the visitors were momentarily halted when Kevin Kelsy equalized with a header.
Yet, just two minutes later, Porto regained the lead, courtesy of Galeno’s second goal, a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Before the half-hour mark, Mehdi Taremi extended Porto’s lead with a third goal, and the Portuguese side managed the second half comfortably to secure a winning start to their Champions League campaign.
