UEFA Champions League: Lewandowski Grabs Hattrick, Liverpool Mauled By Napoli, Other Stories From Match Day One
The 2022-23 UEFA Champions League season kicked off on Tuesday, September 6. The opening day of the competition came to a conclusion on Wednesday, September 7.
There were some fascinating and equally shocking results from the opening part of the UEFA champions league tournament.
While several European elites returned to the competition, English premier league outfit, Manchester United failed to qualify for the competition. They will be participating the Europa Cup tournament that kicks off on Thursday, September 8.
ALSO READ: Thomas Tuchel Part Ways With Chelsea Following Champions League Opening Day Defeat
After finishing as runners up in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League edition, English Premier League club, Liverpool were mauled four goals to one by Italian football club, Napoli in their opening day contest. A result that the six times European champions would quickly want to forget.
As for the Spanish club, Barcelona, Polish goal machine, Robert Lewandowski on his Champions league debut for the club bagged a hattrick in the 5-1 drubbing of Czech Republic club, Vikrotia Plzen.
ALSO READ: Jack Wilshere, Former Arsenal Player Retires From Football At The Age Of 30
Moji Delano will be unveiling the results from the opening day of the competition.
Group A: The group consist of Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli and Rangers
On Wednesday night, Netherland side, Ajax defeated the returning Scottish league club, Rangers by four goals to nothing.
In the second Group A game, Napoli stunned Liverpool by four goals to one. Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen‘s penalty was saved by Liverpool‘s Alisson Becker in the half of the game.
See video of the spot kick below.
https://twitter.com/Felixsunday22/status/1567594767273295879?s=20
Ajax ended the night on top of the group.
According to the Twitter analyst, @OptaJoe, Liverpool have suffered the heaviest defeat by an English Premier League side in their opening game of a UEFA Champions League campaign since Arsenal lost 3-0 to Internazionale (Inter Milan) in 2003-04 – tonight was the Reds’ joint-heaviest defeat overall in the competition.
GROUP B: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Bayern Leverkusen
The game became Spanish football club, Atletico Madrid and Portuguese side, FC Porto did not come alive until the latter part of the match. The pragmatic approach employed by the two football clubs almost made the game stiff, until the late 90th minute.
All three goals in the 2-1 win of Atletico over FC Porto came after the 90th minute of the game. French forward, Antoine Griezmann bagged the winning goal in the 11th minute of stoppage time.
In the other match between Club Brugge and Bayer Leverkusen, 19-year-old Ivorian footballer, Loubadhe Abakar Sylla got the only goal of the game.
GROUP C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzen
On his debut for five times Champions League winners, Barcelona, Polish forward, Robert Lewandowski bagged a hattrick in the 5-1 demolition of Czech Republic side, Viktoria Plzen.
Lewandowski‘s former club, German champions, Bayern Munich also got of to a winning start with a 2-0 win over Italian outfit, Inter Milan.
GROUP D: Tottenham, Sporting Lisbon, Marseille, Eintract Frankfurt
Brazilian playmaker, Richarlison got a double for English Premier League side, Tottenham in the 2-0 win against French club, Marseille.
Portuguese club, Sporting Lisbon defeated 2021-22 Europa Cup winners, German club, Eintract Frankfurt.
GROUP E: FC SALZBURG, AC MILAN, CHELSEA, DINAMO ZAGREB
Moji Delano reported earlier that Chelsea and German manager, Thomas Tuchel parted ways after the club suffered an opening day defeat against Croatian club, Dinamo Zagreb.
Austrian club, Salzburg and Italian Seria A champions, AC Milan played a 1-1 draw in their opening Group E encounter.
GROUP F: REAL MADRID, SHARKTAR DONETSK, CELTIC, RB LEIPZIG
The defending champions, Real Madrid kicked off the season with a 3-0 victory against the returning Scottish side, Celtic.
Ukrainian side, Sharktar Donetsk cruised to a 4-1 win over German outfit, RB Leipzig.
GROUP G: MANCHESTER CITY, BORUSSIA DORTMUND, SEVILLA, FC COPPENHAGEN
Norwegian striker, Erling Halaand bagged a hattrick on his Champions league debut for the English Premier league winners, Manchester City.
Manchester City defeated Spanish side, Sevilla 4-0.
In the other group game, Borussia Dortmund, Erling Halaand‘s former club defeated Danish club, Copenhagen 3-0.
GROUP H: BENFICA, JUVENTUS, PARIS ST. GERMAIN, MACCABI HAIFA
Two Kylian Mbappe goals helped French champions, Paris St. Germain to a 2-1 win against Italian giants, Juventus.
Portuguese side, Benfica defeated Israeli club, Maccabi Haifa by two goals to nothing.
The next rounds of play will be coming up next week.
