Results:
Group E
Napoli 2 Liverpool 0
Red Bull Salzburg 6 Genk 2
Group F
Inter Milan 1 Slavia Prague 1
Borussia Dortmund 0 Barcelona 0
Group G
Lyon 1 Zenit St Petersburg 1
Benfica 1 RassenBallsport Leipzig 2
Group H
Ajax Amsterdam 3 Lille 0
Chelsea 0 Valencia 1
Round-up: The Champions League group stage for the 2019/20 season has got underway, as eight matches from four groups took place today. The reigning European champions Liverpool, began the defence of their crown by facing Italian side, Napoli, whom they also faced last season in the group stage, and just like last year - the European champions suffered a defeat. In what was a tight match, Napoli were awarded a hugely controversial penalty - one that should arguably not even have been awarded - after Andy Robertson was deemed to have fouled José Callejon in the box, and Dries Mertens stepped up to convert it. It thus meant that Liverpool had to chase the game, and uncharacteristically Virgil van Dijk made an error after overplaying in the defence and was punished for it by a goal from Fernando Llorente in the 92nd minute. The other match in Liverpool's group involved Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg and KRC Genk, and it was a match which saw plenty of goals - eight to be precise, as Salzburg prevailed in an impressive 6-2 win thanks in no small part to a hat-trick from Norwegian attack Erling Braut Haaland, son of former footballer Alf-Inge Haaland. There was a mouthwatering clash in Group F involving Borussia Dortmund and last year's Champions League semi-finalists Barcelona. In the end, it is fair to say that the match was a disappointment as the two sides played out a goalless draw, however, Barcelona will no doubt have goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen to thank as he made several saves, with the key one coming in the 57th minute as he kept out a Marco Reus penalty after Jadon Sancho was fouled in the box. Earlier on, the other match from this group was played as Inter Milan needed a 90th-minute goal from midfielder Nicolo Barella to rescue them a point after Peter Olayinka had given Czech champions Slavia Prague the lead in the 63rd minute. RB Leipzig returned to the Champions League after a one-season absence in style, as they recorded a 2-1 away win against Benfica, with striker Timo Werner being the chief protagonist as he grabbed both of Leipzig's goals to give manager Julian Nagelsmann his first ever win in the competition. Haris Seferovic scored an 84th minute consolation for the hosts. The other match of the group took place earlier on, with Lyon and Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg playing out a 1-1 draw as Memphis Depay scored from the penalty spot to cancel out Sardar Azmoun's earlier strike for Zenit. Ajax Amsterdam, who against many expectations last season reached the Champions League semi-final after some impressive performances along the way, began this year's campaign in impressive fashion as they swept aside Lille in a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Quincy Promes, Edson Alvarez and Nicolas Tagliafico. Chelsea, last season's Europa League winners, returned to the Champions League in disappointing fashion as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Valencia which meant Frank Lampard's debut as manager in the Champions League got off to a losing start. The hosts suffered a blow after just 15 minutes, as young star Mason Mount limped off with an injury after a brutal tackle from former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, before they then conceded in the 74th minute thanks to a strike from Rodrigo. Chelsea were given a late chance to rescue a point as they were awarded a penalty late on after a handball inside the box, but after an argument over who would take the kick, Ross Barkley stepped up to do so - much to Willian's annoyance - and hit the bar.
Comments